I had hoped that my letter from the editor in our Nov. magazine was a sufficient goodbye. But I was reminded, by my exceptional Social Media Coordinator Katie Quintuna, that it would only make sense to spare a few words for our online readers who may not pick up the magazine. As opposed to just a bland letter wishing everyone the best and talking about the future, I thought I’d do something fun and go over some highlights of my time here at The Clarion.
But first things first: today marks the end of my tenure as Executive Editor of The Clarion. I have held the position since Dec. 2023 but had been a part of the team for some time before that. I joined as a regular reporter, worked my way up to Managing Editor, then was handed the reigns last year. It came at an absolutely difficult time and till this day I shudder every now and again when I think about those first few months.
Times were as brutal as they were beautiful. And despite dealing with cuts to our hours, fears The Clarion would be shut down, and a byzantine series of staffing issues that would make Tywin Lannister sympathetic-we prevailed. I leave in a way that, back in Jan. 2024, I could have only dreamed of.
So, before I get to the highlights and talk about all the fun stuff, I want to sincerely thank my co-workers, readers, and contributors. I need to give a big shout-out to Jessica Graue for her strong support. I leave with a legion of friends and moments I’ll treasure for the rest of my life.
I thank everyone we interviewed, everyone who gave us their time, everyone that gave us their support. Journalism is hard but without your help it would have been impossible. We could not have done it without you (yes you, the person reading this!).
So, without further ado, let’s look down memory lane in celebration of our time together.
Biggest Turning Point At The Clarion
Fellow reporter Clark Kent was happy to pose for me in Columbus. Photo Credit: Ismael David Mujahid
We all have those moments at work where, for better or worse, nothing afterward can be the same. At The Clarion, that moment came shortly after becoming Executive Editor. It really underlined what we could achieve as a team.
Early on, I thought it would be great if every magazine we did in Spring included a ‘Blockbuster interview’. The idea was that by profiling highly successful people we looked up to, I could inspire my teammates to be more daring in their stories, really harness the potential of our readership, and draw a line behind what The Clarion was and what readers could expect moving forward. It was also an opportunity to pick the brains of some of my creatives.
Galaxycon and my interview with John Scalzi is where that ambition would be put to the test. And you know what? Things turned out great. The feedback was incredible and I loved it when readers would stop me at Starbucks or other places. Feeling that love and positivity was the affirmation we needed.
Moments I’ll Treasure
Traveling to Brazil this summer meant the world to me. Photo Provided By: Ismael David Mujahid
Beyond every interview and event, the thing I will miss most is just hanging out with my team. Especially when Faith, Mason, Macey, and Carly were here. The atmosphere at work was just so positive and encouraging, no matter what we individually were going through. We supported each other, laughed together, and really gelled. It is almost impossible to work with that team and not laugh.
Even this semester we had some standout moments in the office. I’ll miss those too.
Toughest Interview
Every person I interviewed was incredible. The way they answered my questions, whether a legend like Gav Thorpe or an average passerby, was super helpful. Photo Credit: Black Library
I can’t say any interview was tough or challenging. Chalk it up to me just being very lucky with my interviewees. The only thing I found difficult was making sure that what I wrote did justice to the story I was telling. That internal tension was felt with pretty much every article. The last thing I wanted to do was disappoint people.
Fortunately, I was able to use that anxiety as a sort of catalyst. It was a reminder that I cared, kept me on my toes, and helped me work even harder.
Proudest Achievement
During my time, I was honored to interview people from around the world including Brazil, Bosnia and Hercegovina, and the UK. Photo Credit: HarperCollins
I loved getting the chance to interview so many awesome people. I’m also proud of the many different cultures and communities we were able to represent. Writing the first foreign language article in The Clarion’s history was also massive. Over the past year we also gave debuts to a lot of poets. Just surviving this long is an achievement too. I can’t just choose one and this is my goodbye letter, so I’m picking them all!
The Future
My trip to the UK for the coronation of Charles III was a grand adventure. And I have plenty more to look forward to. Photo Credit: Ismael David Mujahid
Leaving a workplace I’ve put so much into is difficult but necessary. Transitions, growth, and personal evolution are all part of life. As sad as I feel right, I am still super excited about my next adventure
One thing is certain: I won’t be slowing down. I’ll continue to write fiction under my pen name Ismail Soldan. I’m happy to share that a short story of mine will be featured in the January 2025 volume of the Crimson Quill Quarterly! Additionally, I have a story that is coming out in the upcoming anthology “JR Handley Presents: Contested Landing Vol.2.”
I will also continue working as a journalist and have a few prospective jobs I’m really hype about. On a more personal note, I’ve also launched a blog on Medium, The Nomad Chronicle, that I hope will delight readers of longform journalism.
I have more exciting news regarding my novels and collected works that I will share on social media soon. So, feel free to follow me on Instagram @thelitnomad009.
This isn’t farewell but simply an ate a proxima.
A last piece of advice: whoever you are, wherever you are, stay positive and keep smiling. Life is too short to spend it frowning and too fleeting not to pursue your dreams. I know times are tough but don’t forget to take care of yourself. You owe it to yourself to be happy and successful. I’ve always believed that a champion is not the person that knocks down the most, but the person that gets up the most. No matter what life hits you with, don’t stay down! Don’t give up, don’t give in. Every time you stand back up and every ordeal you survive is a step closer to victory.
Wishing you all love and peace,
Ismael David Mujahid, Executive Editor
