Dear Birdie: Senior Swan Song

Written by Birdie aka Julia Lane. Graphic by Ana Vergara Garcia.

Welcome back to “Dear Birdie,” a column where I do my best to offer guidance and some humor in response to questions from our college community! Throughout the column, I hope to help answer questions about anything and everything–from class troubles to relationship advice, movie recommendations and more. This column is anonymous on both ends so that you all can have a comfortable outlet for conversation. 

As of this week, my time as a District editor has wrapped up to a close, and with it, so does this column (unless a future editor parrots it). For my final installment, I asked a few of our senior editors to reflect on their time at SCAD and share their insights about the community, being a student in a creative field and living in Savannah. At this point in our academic careers, we’ve been around the block, and there’s always so much to learn looking back at a journey once you’ve nearly completed it. Thus, I present to you: Senior Swan Song (except it’s only three of us).  

Editor-in-Chief, Ally Abruscato

Go outside of your comfort zone and push yourself past what you think you can do. You may surprise yourself! Whether that’s going to a new club (District every Wednesday at 8:30 pm in the Student Media Center), running further than you think you can go or experimenting with your art, there’s always space for new things!

Creative Director, Anna Porter 

Something I’ve realized over my years at SCAD is how important it is to develop your personal creative process. Know it like the back of your hand. You can’t compare your process to anyone else’s– you need to recognize what makes YOUR creativity flow best. Once you know how your own mind operates, you can channel your best work. 

Copy Editor and Retiring Birdie, Julia Lane 

I think the best advice I could give you is to walk around the city. There are so many sights to take in: sprawling Spanish moss, squares with brass turtles or gazebos and enviable homes with bright doors and wrap-around porches. Beyond that, a walk can take you out of a creative block, provide you with inspiration and is a form of exercise. It’s good for the mind, the soul and the body, while also letting you get to know Savannah like the back of your hand. 

Well, with those final words and identity reveal, it’s time for this bird to fly the nest. Though I’ve only been writing Dear Birdie for about a year, it’s provided me with a unique outlet to learn more about myself. Those who know me know I’m always pondering something, and your questions prompted me to put a lot of thought into problems I hadn’t begun to form answers for yet. So, thank you for crafting such insightful questions and for listening to all of my chirps. The benefits of this column go both ways. 

Happy trails, 

Birdie