By Sanya Bery ’17, Section Editor

A lot of my articles talk about how I didn’t want to be humor editor because I am kind of the worst at being funny. My dedicated fans (I know you’re out there) have stopped me in the hallway and said, “Hey Sanya, I read your articles and sure did I laugh!” to which I’ve responded, “Why are you laughing, all it is is self-deprecation. Please help me.” To which, they laughed and then asked, “If you’re so terrible at humor, how are you editor?” I wondered the same thing, so I decided to dig out my old application for an editorial position in The Minuteman.  It’s attached below.

1. State your name and grade.
Sanya Bery. Contrary to popular belief, I’ll be a senior next year. I am certainly not a middle schooler pretending to be a senior.

2.What are your choices for editorial positions?

1. Feature
2. Commentary
3. Literally anything besides humor
4. News
5. Sports
6. Please not humor, I’d rather stick a fork in my eye than edit for humor
7. Arts and Entertainment

3.What do your extracurricular activities look like next year? Please state them along with your time commitment.

a. Field Hockey: Fall, 3:00-5:30, Monday-Friday
b. Monday-Sunday: 10:45-11:45 pm, Crying about how no one laughs at my actual jokes and how I have a crippling fear that I am not actually funny, but rather use humor to hide my sadness.
c. Student Council: Day 3, 5th period and 2:30-3:15 on Wednesdays
d. Green Committee: 2:30-3:30, Tuesdays

4. How would you ensure readership of the newspaper?
I think the most important thing we need in order to ensure readership are good editors that like their section and can do a good job of motivating writers to write. For example, I think the Feature section was strong last year because both the editors, Mauranda and I, genuinely liked Feature. Our writers were really interested in it, too. But, if I were to edit humor I would be sad and the section would be terrible. Also, no one would read it or write for it because I’m painfully unfunny. In fact, if you want to ensure readership to the newspaper just don’t make me humor editor. There – potential problem solved.

After sending this application, I received this reply.