The final word of G

I can’t believe the day has come. And no, I’m not talking about graduation.
I spent three years in this cramped up office, dealing with different personalities across the spectrum. And though I never had a byline in The Daily Targum, I lost nights of sleep all the same. But somehow, it’s OK because I wouldn’t have spent the majority of my college years any other way.
Being at the Targum has changed my life. I’m a far different person compared to who I was three years ago. I came into the office as a sophomore transfer, fresh off a miserable, “character-building” year spent at Rider University. And then I saw a house ad in the RU 101 issue during the summer of 2006, and there, in front of me, was my opportunity for change. I started off as a mute desk assistant to the always-enthusiastic Claire Wesley, was pressured by Christa Wesley to become the associate copy editor a few months after, became head copy editor by the spring of 2008 and came back down to desk assistant last February because I just couldn’t stay away.
The fact of the matter is, Targum helped me start anew in the right way, and I just haven’t been the same since. I fell into a career that I know I will only continue to chase and, along the way, I fell in love with the people there.
To The Wesleys and The Mikes: You guys were my mentors, through and through. From the beginning, I looked up to you guys, and to this day, you remain to be my favorite people. Literally, thanks for everything.
To Ange: Somehow, along the way, my fellow Asian became my confidant at Targum. I don’t know how that happened, but it did. Personally and professionally, we’ve gone through too much together. You were my sanity through all of the hard times. Keep your head up; you’re doing an incomparable job.
To Maggie: Inside Beat is nothing without you. The end. You bridged the gap between IB and the daily, took your design skills and overall vision to a whole new level and never looked back. Keep doing what you do. I can’t wait till we take over the magazine world together.
To Dan: You have been around since the start, yet somehow, this year has been nothing short of ridiculous. Whether it was during your term as editor-in-chief or during my term as your secretary, I am continuously proud of you and your talents. I know between you, me and BReed, our professional paths will continue to cross in the future.
To Adrienne and Amanda: I tried to avoid using the word “protégés,” but that’s what you two are to me. I am beyond confident that the both of you will hold down the copy desk as I leave it. You have already been doing a great job and, as a team, you two are incredible. Remember that we are not a force to be reckoned with, especially when it comes to punctuation use.
To the 141st: You guys are an unstoppable team bound to do great things. As if all of those awards won earlier in the semester didn’t set the precedence to your year, you are all more than qualified to do what you do and to do it in the greatest capacity. Despite all of the stress I know you guys endure on a day-to-day basis, remember that you are putting out the best collegiate newspaper in the nation (at least, according to the Associated Collegiate Press).
As much as I hate being cliché, the Targum has truly become a home away from home. It’s the best thing that could have ever happened to me while at Rutgers.


Jessica Gatdula is a Douglass College senior majoring in journalism and media studies. She has grown from a timid, only loud when at an infamous Mike party, copy cat to a confident heel-stomping New Yorker. The Word of G will live on in all of us. There are fond memories of her dancing to “Rehab,” by Amy Winehouse, as well as the unforgettable feud for her hand in marriage between Dane and an undisclosed contender. All jokes aside, Jessica, more popularly known as Jess G., will be sorely missed by staff members as she has been a source of great advice to everyone who has crossed her path.