Here I am again, trying to write this short column addressing the readership of The Natchez Democrat.

It’s more difficult than it was before, because speaking my voice, my opinions, my feelings is not something that always comes easy to a journalist, which is something I am becoming, and over the summer as an intern at The Democrat, have grown to almost be.

We, as a population of newsgatherers, don’t voice our views on many events, regarding many people, about many facts on a regular basis except in confidence with our close family, friends and coworkers.

We are taught to be unbiased, to state facts and tell what happened from an impartial point of view.

Believe me, I am taking a leap into the unknown when I say I want to tell you all thank you.

Thank you for letting me write for you. This summer you have seen approximately 60 headlines introducing my stories to you during the last three months. I hope you enjoyed most of them.

Thank you for letting me show you a few images of things I’ve seen, mango truck wrecks and all.

Thank you for not absolutely destroying me in the comments of the stories I’ve written. The sheer act of not doing something makes me confident you are all wonderful people.

Thank you to those who called me back. You made my life much easier.

Thank you to those who called me and let me have it over the phone. You are the ones really teaching me what not to do as a writer. I’ll never forget y’all.

Thank you for the emails, calls and texts thanking me for writing a story. I promise, the pleasure of meeting you and hearing what you had to say was all mine.

Thank you to the staff in the newsroom. Everyone has something to teach, and I’ve learned something from every one of you.

Thank you Mr. Kevin for letting me come back for my fourth summer internship. It’s been an amazing summer. Thank you for the opportunity.

Thank you Jan for keeping me busy and teaching me that even with seven stories due in two days, I am capable of getting it done and meeting deadlines.

Thank you Ben for making my somewhat comically lacking s’mores style page look wonderful.

Thank you everyone at The Democrat for trying the various foods I made for the style page. I know some of them (the blueberry bars) looked a little sketchy, but y’all were good sports.

Thanks to everyone who laughed when I told them I go to the University of Alabama. We’ll see who’s laughing when it comes time for football (just kidding). Roll Tide.

I am getting ready for my move back to Tuscaloosa.

I am packing up my clothes, my books and camera, along with memories of a summer well spent.

Thanks Natchez for welcoming me home and preparing me to leave again. See you next summer!

 

Mary Kathryn Carpenter is a Natchez native and a University of Alabama student who worked as an intern at The Democrat this summer.