Get to know Jackie, our new Writing Wizard!

By Chloé Gee on October 14, 2020

By Chloé Gee on October 14, 2020

We’re excited to introduce our newest team member, Jackie Bell. We’ve been planning on adding a digital marketing coordinator for quite a while. Our search lasted a couple of months, and Jackie stood out as the best candidate. She’s been here for a couple of weeks now, so I recently took some time to ask her a few questions.

Q: Where did you go to college, and what did you study?

A: I went to a small university called Southwestern Oklahoma State University. In high school, I was somehow really great at math, so I decided to major in Accounting. After my first semester, my Comp professor pulled me aside and told me she enjoyed my writing and that I should be an English major. Once I switched over and started taking the classes, I realized how much happier writing and editing made me.

Q: That’s a big change! It’s good that you found your passion. You did an editing internship, right? Will you tell me a little more about that?

A: My editing professor, who is also the Editor in Chief of Westview journal, mentioned that she would be needing an editorial assistant for the next semester. I needed a 4-credit class that final semester, so Dr. Smith-Chesley basically created a class for me as her editorial assistant. It was a win-win for the both of us!

I learned so much from her and even picked up her pet peeves as my own. I got to copyedit, process submissions, and assign readers. There was a lot more to finish that I was unable to complete due to COVID-19. It cut my internship short, but I did do a little work from home. Around that time, my dad had also passed away, and she avoided overloading me with a bunch of work. She basically told me that I needed to take more time, which I ended up appreciating very much, though I wish I could have helped her more.

Q: I’m so sorry for your loss. Did you and your dad share the same interests in writing or editing?

A: He actually really enjoyed writing, but not editing. My dad was more of a science guy, and he was extremely smart. I swear, his brain was like a textbook. I remember going through his childhood stuff and finding letters he would write, including his speech when he ran for class president. He also loved music and played guitar really well. I definitely get my creativity from him!

Q: Awe, that is really sweet. What is something you’re passionate about besides writing and editing?

A: I am very passionate about spending time with my friends and family. It’s impossible to know what’s going to happen next, so I always try to make time for them. They are all so much fun, and it’s hard to be in a bad mood when I am around them. Honestly, they are all incredible, and I couldn’t do life without them.

Also, I am very empathetic, so I am extremely passionate when it comes to animals, feminism, human rights, and more. I care a lot about people and the world we live in. I wish I could help and save everyone—change the world for the better.

Q: How nice! I’m passionate about my friends and family, too. Outside of the office, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

A: Besides my cats, my best friends are Netflix, YouTube, and TikTok. I could bundle up in bed and watch them all day, but my brain would be fried. I like to hike, and I wish I didn’t have to travel far just to do it. I also like to write poetry, draw, and color. Now that I live in a bigger city, I am sure I will add a few more things to my list!

Q: Awesome! Okay, one last question. In your job interview, you mentioned that on a scale of 1-10 of being weird, you are a 12. What do people think is weird about you?

A: Ha, probably lots of things. I inspect dishes and silverware before using it, and I will refuse to use it if it has even the smallest speck. I also have a phobia when it comes to blood and veins. My ankles get really weak when people talk about that stuff. I’m VERY picky when it comes to water. I almost always have a Fiji water bottle with me. I am also cold all the time. It will be 100 degrees outside, and I will still be wearing a sweater and shivering. 

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1 Comments

  1. Avatar Paula Geisinger on October 15, 2020 at 6:34 am

    Welcome to Jackie from a fellow SWOSU alum!