A Blonde, a Brunette, and a Newspaper

Why Friendships Are Needed in a Work Environment

Lauren Curtis and Erin Green

Everyone’s life is like a continuous story, with chapters that just so happen to overlap with the narratives of others. Our stories crossed paths about three years ago, with a (now) blonde and a brunette who at the time were not very fond of one another. They went a whole year without talking, and then, of course, fate brought both them together by the one thing they had in common: media. Since these two girls were forced to be in the same room, they decided to become cordial, and now, they are stuck like glue.

 

If it wasn’t for us having the same passion, the editors that lie before you wouldn’t be producing a newspaper that we are exceptionally proud of today. Success is much easier to come by when a friend with mutual interests and goals is working alongside you to achieve objectives and make troublesome times just a little bit more bearable.

 

Some may say that business is business, and mixing personal friendships and emotions with something so crucial would only dampen the quality of work being produced. However, we beg to differ. Sure, if the two of us were not friends and never spoke outside of our assigned duties, we could still manage to make a good newspaper. But the element that separates us from good and makes us extraordinary is the deep appreciation we have for each other. Friendship is about encouraging another person and believing in them even when they don’t believe in themselves. It’s about respecting each other’s different strengths and allowing the other person to shine in the places you’re not as bright in. It’s about celebrating each other’s achievements and holding the other person accountable so together you can be the best you can possibly be. How can these qualities do anything other than promote a healthy and positive work environment?

 

Being co-editors that are also best friends has helped us meet our deadlines, manage our time wisely, and design our newspaper to what it is today. Knowing that the other person respects your opinion results in better communication throughout the entire staff. Our first year on the newspaper team was by far one of the most unforgettable experiences because the editors–much like us–were best friends. This led to a more welcoming and inviting environment that allowed us to even develop a friendship in the first place. One of the first goals we wanted to maintain when we became editors was to keep that hospitable atmosphere alive. In doing so, we’ve raised up a new staff that feels they can come to us with anything. Their vibrant personalities and powerful voices shine through in their stories, and they never have to doubt how amazed we are at their talent. According to the Mayo Clinic, having friendships boost your confidence and lowers your stress rate. With this, staff members tend to feel more self-assured in their writing and view it as a creative outlet and hobby rather than a chore. 

 

Journalism is what made our friendship as strong as it is. We have different tastes in music, movies, and even style. Aside from media, we really don’t have much in common. So why do we get along so well? The answer is simple, really; it’s the hardships we’ve faced as a team. Yes, our love for writing brought us together, but the adversities we’ve undergone have forced us to develop an indestructible bond and kept our friendship intact. From struggling to interview someone alone to now having a staff that looks up to us, any obstacle we’ve had to overcome, we’ve done it together. Having a partner to rely upon through the troubles we face not only makes it easier on us but also helps us strive to fulfill our goals.

One of the most difficult tasks anyone can be given is to find a way to survive and still feel fulfilled. There’s not much one can do to ease the difficulties of trudging through life, but finding something you’re passionate about and pursuing it in the presence of good company makes the bleakest moments a little bit brighter. Having a friend with the same passion and drive to succeed has allowed us to achieve our goals and have fun while doing it. We’re about to graduate high school and to be honest, we have absolutely no idea what’s next in our story. But we’re just happy we got to spend a few chapters in each other’s. Leslie Knope once said, “What makes work worth doing is getting to do it with people that you love.” I think we’ll have to agree on that one.