Viveca Stucke
Features Editor
This past school year, I shifted away from my usual passion for opinion writing to explore a new area — features. As someone who had always taken pride in my weekly opinion articles, this change left my family and friends puzzled, wondering why I chose to step away from something that I had been so deeply invested in as I was constantly sending them my articles to discuss.
My interest in opinion pieces has always been closely linked to my passion for politics, with my perspectives stemming from current events and the government. In the last year, I had written about topics like the state of the Republican Party, my thoughts on Joe Biden, and even my uncertainties about voting. However, as the election season approached, I found myself increasingly anxious.
Politically, I find myself at a crossroads. While my personal beliefs, feelings, and perspectives align with a particular party, I also grapple with the fact that many of my ideals are, at least for now, unattainable in America. I know that achieving these goals will require constant effort and nothing can be realized overnight. As a result, I often come across as centrist, especially since I try to be bipartisan and see the bigger picture, understanding different viewpoints.
Growing up in a family with differing political beliefs, I learned to adapt. I realized when it was best to remain silent, understanding that no matter how strongly I felt or even how factually correct I may be, I couldn’t change deeply entrenched perspectives. Overall, I believe politics is a complex and messy environment, but that most people are well-intentioned, supporting candidates that they believe will benefit the country. The challenge lies in the varying definitions and understandings of what “good” truly means.
As the election approached, I found myself hesitating to write opinion pieces, fearing that no matter what I said, I would be walking on eggshells with someone in my life. I also did not want to contribute to rhetoric that didn’t always feel like my place to address, or risk further polarizing or dividing conversation, particularly within my own personal sphere.
I also wanted to broaden my writing skills and explore new areas. Last spring, I dabbled in features, and this semester, I’ve been a Features Editor, which has given me the opportunity to gain experience in a different area of writing. This shift has also allowed me to see campus and my peers from a new perspective. While I feel like I have written a thousand “Peep my Crib” pieces this semester (how many times can I describe an environment as “peaceful” or “transform an Easy Street dorm into a relaxing atmosphere?”), it has taught me to slow down, be more observant, and focus on my creativity in new ways.
I don’t hate opinion writing, and I have not stopped forming my own views — if anything, they have gotten more intense. However, I realized I couldn’t keep writing in that format while I was personally grappling with how outspoken I wanted to be about politics in my life. I chose to keep my opinions mostly to myself, steering clear of story posts and political debates, engaging in supportive measures behind the scenes, in an effort to avoid sparking more divisive conversations.
Featured image courtesy of LinkedIn
Copy Edited by Caroline Kramer ’26
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