This week we have our very own Her Campus home-grown celebrity, Rhona Taylor, who we managed to grab for five minutes despite her crazy schedule so she could tell us a bit more about what goes on behind the scenes at Her Campus Aberdeen.
Originally from West Kilbride, Rhona is a third year English Literature student on a mission. She tells us that from an early age she always dreamed of being an Editor-in-Chief of a magazine like Cosmopolitan but she never realised that real people like her actually ended up with jobs like that. But in coming to Aberdeen, Rhona has certainly made her mark on the journalism scene at university. Rhona convincingly tells us that although it might be seen as ‘the biggest long shot in the world’ you just have to start writing and eventually some one of importance may come across your work and it could be the publication for you. You’ve just go to keep trying.
This can-do attitude is exactly why Rhona is perfect for the job of joint Editor-in-Chief (with the equally amazing Rachel). Although we here at Her Campus Aberdeen are a little biased, even the briefest meetings with Rhona give us a glimpse of a seriously hardworking and enthusiastic journalist, the sky really does seem to be the limit for this girl.
When we ask her why she chose the Granite City to begin to make her mark on the world, we were pretty surprised to hear that the weather was a factor! You only have to Google image Aberdeen to notice the common theme of grey, grey, grey and one generally assumes that the city’s weather isn’t what brings in the punters. But it seems Rhona chose a pretty sweet day to visit the University, claiming that it put her under the impression that it always sparkled! She forces us to admit that when the sun comes out in Aberdeen the granite truly glitters and says she envisaged herself spending long days on the quad with a book soaking in the words and rays.
Like many English Literature students, Rhona came to university pretty unsure of the best career path to take, but knew that her love for reading and writing would stand her in good stead, and although it isn’t the most vocational of degrees, it was ‘more her’ and we think it suits her down to the ground. You only have to look at her leather backpack and oversized reading glasses to know she was born for this degree!
Rhona single handedly brought Her Campus to Aberdeen, and it was a summer working at a camp in America that brought the online magazine onto her radar. Rhona tells Her Campus that after hearing about it on her American travels, she didn’t really know what it was. But after returning to the homeland, coincidently a girl she knew from back home was trying to expand Her Campus in the UK and she applied to start one in Aberdeen: Her Campus Aberdeen was born! This all seems like a pretty big ask for one, albeit very driven, student. Rhona admits that she had ‘literally never’ done anything like this before and hence why she contacted the fabulous Rachel – who she didn’t really know at the time – but thought she would be great as a co-president. And it was this partnership that resulted in a successful application to be Editor-in-Chiefs of their first publication.
When we asked Rhona what exactly her job entitled it became clear that Rachel and herself seriously have their work cut out! Rhona describes her duties as not only editing and uploading the weekly content and promoting the magazine and the brand but also establishing a great writing and events team. And we at Her Campus, as modest as ever, think she found a pretty great one! Rhona doesn’t give herself too much credit, telling us that being totally honest her team of writers and two main editors are so good that she and Rachel’s job is made a whole lot easier.
Although it is unimaginable that Rhona has time to breathe amongst trying to balance all of this along with being a tip-top English student, her extra-curricular activities certainly don’t stop there. From first year Rhona has played hockey for the university, claiming she couldn’t possibly give that up, if only because she loves the hockey girls and has to make time for them! She is also a keen gym bunny, in fact word on the street is that it is one of her favourite places; we think she’s a little bit nuts but we are really just totally jealous the gym isn’t our favourite place. Not content in writing for just one online magazine, Rhona also writes for a magazine called Honesty for Breakfast, certainly something all you lovely Her Campus readers should check out. Rhona makes sure to note that we shouldn’t just read her writing but everything on the site as it is great and completely tailored to us twenty-something girls. Keeping up appearances on Aberdeen’s social scene as well, Rhona certainly doesn’t have much time to sit around in front of the TV, but we get the impression she wouldn’t have it any other way. As she says herself ‘there are more hours in the day than you think!’
So we know why Rhona got involved, but we want to ask our dear Her Campus readers, why should you? Rhona says that like it did for her, writing for the magazine can open up so many doors and opportunities you may never even have thought about. She continues that it makes you realise what you’re interested in and you get to write for people under an alter ego, giving you an outlet to express whatever you want to. All of the Her Campus team have come from all different degrees, from Nutrition to Law but the project has allowed Rhona and the rest of the team to meet a whole new amazing group of people. All of us are inexperienced in writing, but we are all picking things up en route, and it’s a whole lot of fun and a real insight into the world of journalism. If you fancy writing for Her Campus or want to know a little more of what’s involved then do not hesitate to get in touch with Rhona at rhonataylor@hercampus.com. We always want to hear from you!
So far we have worked to become an official society – we even get our own table at the fresher’s fair! As for Rhona, she is keen to explore the world of journalism even more as she has found something she loves doing and, as work should always be, it never seems like a chore. Of course, the big bad magazine world is a bit scary to Rhona at the moment, but she is slowly yet surely making her way towards her dreams.