Another iconic year of Gothic Times, unfortunately, means one of our own is graduating. In a month and some change, our current reigning Editor-In-Chief Kendry Hilario will be walking the stage. Here, I interviewed him to capture his motivation, skills, and reflection on his year running the Gothic Times.
Isaael: How did you get your start at the Gothic times?
Kendry: I met the former Editor in Chief, Tia Warren during a film club meeting and we became close friends. I expressed interest in helping her out with The Gothic Times since she was running it by herself, and the rest was history!
Isaael: Can I ask when did you start it NJCU? And where did you transfer from?
Kendry: I started September of 2023, and I transferred from Hudson County Community College after getting my Associates in Studio Arts!
Isaael: What were your initial goals when you when you when you were offered, like editor in chief, and how did you feel you fulfilled them?
Kendry: Right off the bat, when the conversation about me stepping up to be editor in chief came to the table, I always thought, “What can I do to continue to make this something for the students?” I wanted this to be a means of expression and an outlet for students to be themselves and to reach other students because this is a student-run newspaper for the students, by the students. I wanted to continue that, but I wanted to modernize the Gothic times, and I feel like I did because now that I had more people on board, they started pitching different creative elements to incorporate into the Gothic Times. One example is the Creative Times, which I’m glad became a thing, thanks to Melody McLain, my managing editor, suggesting it.
I feel like when people hear that we’re just a newspaper, that kind of dates us a little bit. Adding that element to the website and having different types of things that people could submit opens the doors and pushes more barriers as to what we could do as a club here, which I’m very proud of.
Isaael: And I feel like it shows because I think, though I was already in love with how Tia ran and the direction you pushed it in. I always knew, “Kendry’s good at what he does, but I think what you did, even though I wasn’t in person, seeing the progress from fall felt like when an artist has their breakthrough moment in the mainstream and back-to-back content and have different conversations.
Isaael: So, not only are you editor in chief, but you are also the president of Knight Student Media and the graphic designer. How did you gain all these roles, and how did you prepare yourself for a bigger workload?
Kendry: Ooh, that’s a really good question. So, basically the roles for graphic design and Knight Student Media were all back-to-back. I had training thankfully to give me time to prepare myself but as well it felt like I was throwing myself into this whole entire thing. The analogy I can make is somebody that’s learning how to swim and it’s just like a thing in the moment where it’s either you sink, or you swim. I had to learn how to swim and I learned it by just going along with it, and thankfully, the things that I learned showed in the things that I’ve been doing.
Isaael: Getting more into your background, what were you doing in high school and at Hudson that you felt made you more ideal for the roles?
Kendry: Freshman year I did a semester of culinary. From my sophomore to senior year, I studied broadcast, film, journalism, and all things from that whole plethora. Then I ended up going to Hudson County Community College and I applied for their studio arts major. I learned how to do things like print design, video production, and even fine arts like painting, color theory, and all the good stuff. So, learning all of that, I was able to diversify myself in what I was able to do, and I realized that I could do so much, that once I got here, I put all those skills to use.
Isaael: When it comes to your work here, you’re juggling three hats. I know you say you go along with the flow, but it’s something that you’ve also had to put dedicated time towards. I am asking specifically about time management of it all because these jobs do kind of blend into each other, but they’re also very distinct.
Kendry: You’re right when you said that they blend into each other because, especially in my experience, at least. How I learned to manage my time is by identifying what role I had to fulfill. For example, in the classroom, my role is simply being a student; outside of the classroom is when I’m involved in Knight Student Media, attending meetings, etc. Setting that boundary really helps to prevent things bleeding into each other.
Isaael: Like any good thing, it takes the community, and one thing I noted throughout your time as editor in chief is that you have built a very fun, wild array of workers. What were you looking for when you were making the e-board aka your staff?
Kendry: The most important factors that I would always look for in who I wanted to step up is accountability, dependability, and responsibility. I feel like somebody that doesn’t have two or three of those factors that I’m looking for can make or break a club, or any project you’re working on. It’s important to have a solid foundation built off those characteristics if you’re looking for success.
Isaael: What were some challenges you faced during your time in power?
Kendry: I would say learning when to separate between being a friend and being a leader. It’s fun working with friends and running clubs with friends because that’s how you make fond memories. But I feel like there were times when having those difficult conversations had to happen. There was a way to approach it, and I feel like I had done it in a diplomatic way where it was also very hard because it’s with a friend, so things can get awkward.
Isaael: In the challenges, there are achievements. What is an article or accomplishment you are most proud of?
Kendry: An article that I will say I’m proud of would have to be the cafeteria article I did with the past editor in chief, Tia Warren. Even though there were a lot of conversations surrounding that piece when it came out, it gave students a chance to voice what they were feeling. Because of that, there have been changes that have taken place since the article came out, and those changes have been good, and I feel like the article made an impact because it was able to be an outlet for students.
Isaael: What do you want to be remembered for during your time?
Kendry: I want to be remembered as somebody who helped people, someone that allowed expression and unique perspectives. And I feel like I’ve done that whether it’s with the Gothic Times or with Knight Student Media in general. I remember at the start when we had a lot of new members, it was kind of like we were all in this together, and especially with the members that we had back then, nobody knew each other. As time went on, I felt like Melody, and I helped them break out of their shells and make new connections through ice breakers and essentially just being ourselves. Because of that, I feel like the people that are part of the club, realized their safe space is the Gothic times, because we encourage individuality, have conversations that aren’t held outside of the room, and that is what kind of brings us together, connected as one, because we know that we could all trust one another. We have a community here, like you said, that is very important to me, and I feel like I have been able to accomplish that through my time here.
Isaael: And what do you love most about the newspaper as a platform, as an outlet of student culture?
Kendry: What I love about it is that it’s a student-run newspaper for the students by the students. They’re having their opinions out there and they’re writing their feelings. They’re writing what’s on their mind, and they can reach other students through that, which is powerful.
With The Gothic Times, we have active readers year-round. Whenever I upload a new story, I check the analytics. Students are commenting all the time with their thoughts, saying “Wow, this story spoke to me” or “This story changed my viewpoint on this.” Having a student speak on various topics such as arts and entertainment to what’s going on in the world currently; these perspectives from a student reaching other students help connect one another.
Isaael: Speaking on perspectives, if you could talk to the Kendry before joining, what would you tell him?
Kendry: To get ready. And I say that for numerous reasons because, looking back to before I transferred here, little did I know how much my life would change so fast. I remember having this thought the other day too where I had an epiphany that was like everything that happened, all the rooms I’ve been in, all the people I met, the roles, the scenarios were because somebody saw something in me. So, the best thing I could tell my past self before stepping into all of this, is that “you’re going to be okay, you wouldn’t be in the rooms that you are in now if somebody didn’t see potential in you”.
Isaael: With the doors opening, what advice do you have to leave with us, the staff, and the readers about what to do when we pick up your mantel?
Kendry: I would say, first and foremost, don’t be afraid to approach something with creativity because, you’ll be surprised as to what the end product will be. I would say as well that even though you’re in a position where you’re in a higher role, you have more eyes on you and it is not necessarily a bad thing because you have people that have your back, and you have a community that is rooting for you. Don’t be afraid of any challenges that may come your way because that comes with anything in life that you do. If you have your community behind you, if you keep a steady head, if your dedication is there, then nothing is impossible for you.
Isaael: To close off, what are you leaving NJCU with?
Kendry: I am leaving with NJCU is personalization. With the Gothic times, I feel like in the past there wasn’t that much personalization within terms of what students could write about. Since I stepped up, students have been writing more personalized stories because it means something to them.
In just one year in office, Kendry Hilario pushed the Gothic Times in new directions. The new e-board will happily be continuing in and more. He has embodied the moxie, grit, and passion encapsulated in the Gothic Times. Not only is he leaving NJCU with a bachelor’s in media arts, but he is also leaving with his impact on the school set in stone.
