PRINTER PAPER STORIES | MEET THE TEAM SERIES: THE ONLINE CORE

Jul 21

I’ve loved writing since I was little. My mom loves to tell my relatives the story of how at the ripe, impressionable age of six, I wrote my own books. This consisted of me requesting that my mom staple together pieces of printer paper for me to write my stories in. You’d have to ask my mom about what my best sellers were.

I came across MUSE in my second year at Queen’s when Trish Rooney, a dear friend of mine and the most amazing role model, encouraged me to apply. I was so scared that my writing wasn’t good enough or that it might not be everyone’s cup of tea. After my first article was published on the website, I felt proud and accomplished. The outpour of support and appreciation I have received from people on MUSE or people who read MUSE has been tremendous and quite honestly essential to my character development.

MUSE has seen almost every side of me. I’ve written about exhibits at the AGO. I’ve written about how parents look different for everyone. I’ve even written about mental health the loss of my dear friends. I’ve written about TedXToronto. I’ve written about what home means to me.

MUSE has given me a great deal of confidence. So much so that I would now love to write that memoir I’ve always dreamed of writing. Six-year-old me would be so proud of how far I’ve come and how those printer paper books founded my love for reading and writing. Little me would have been joyous knowing that my writing would be published on this amazing website surrounded by content from amazing, talented writers and creators.

MUSE is the grown-up version of my printer paper books that are now nicely stacked in storage. This website and the print magazine allow creation to run free. MUSE Magazine is an outlet for the creatives of Queen’s University. The content we generate is authored by people who you would pass on the sidewalk on your way to class.

I am beyond honoured to be leading the online team this year as the online director, and I could not be more in love with and proud of what the online team has published thus far and the content I look forward to publishing on the website this upcoming year. Here’s to MUSE for letting every one of us express our creativity in the ways we love the most.

This is the first installment of a Meet the Team Series that MUSE will be running on our website this year. This specific article is dedicated to our wonderful online editors.

To Allie, Alysha, Ben, Carly, Katelyn, Reilly, and Tiana: Thank you for being my rocks this year. You are all absolutely amazing and wicked talented. I cannot wait to see what you and your contributors accomplish this year.

To Steph: I am so thankful and excited to be working alongside you this year. You truly inspire me to be the best version of myself. Here’s to having a kick-ass year together.

Xx Katherine, Online Director

KATHERINE LIDTKE (she/her) ONLINE DIRECTOR

My muse is the people and things I surround myself with along with the environments I immerse myself in. Literature, nature, my friends, and my family are all things that continuously inspire me. It is these people, places, and things that encourage me to be the best version of myself, which I am forever grateful for.

STEPH CRIMI (she/her) HEAD OF INITIATIVES

My muse is my housemates who always push me to explore my inner creative capacities, no matter how unconventional this creativity is.

ALLIE MACGREGOR (she/her) ONLINE EDITOR

My muse is my friends and family because I've learned everything important in life from them:)

ALYSHA MOHAMED (she/her) ONLINE EDITOR

My muse is unfiltered humanness. The way we love, scream, feel passion in our chests and let it seep out of our skin. Morning coffee and midnight poems - I love it all.

BEN JEFFRIES (he/him) ONLINE EDITOR

My muse is Kevin Abstract.

CARLY WHITE (she/her) ONLINE EDITOR

My muse is anything outside of my comfort zone.

KATELYN BATTAD (she/her) ONLINE EDITOR

My muse is musicians of 70s and 80s. Artists like Queen, David Bowie and Elton John were such a big part of my childhood and I continue to be inspired by their commitment to self-expression and overall creativity.