Kaitlyn Hughes | news editor

You never realize how much someone impacted your life until you get a chance to think about it.

But with Maggie Jones Patterson, the influence she had on other people was always evident.

Every time I met a former journalism student from Duquesne, their faces would instantly light up with a smile as they thought about her.

From her thoughtful feedback, to her witty comments, to her inspiring stories from her journalism career, I was always touched by who she was.

Her passion for teaching and journalism always shined through.

It was Maggie who helped me lay the foundation of my journalism career in Newsroom I with her tough AP style tests, challenging story assignments and critical assessments of my work.

I still think about how she taught me to transcribe my notes directly after an interview, write a solid lede that reflects the nature of the rest of the article and share stories from an unbiased perspective.

Although I am someone who is obsessed with grades,she taught me that the most important thing to take away from my college career are the lessons I learned in and outside the classroom — not a GPA.

Despite knowing her for only a few months, she gave me a tight squeeze, much like a grandmother would, after I received a scholarship from the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania.

In true Maggie fashion, she told me how proud of me she was and quickly followed up with a witty comment on how she did not know how I walked across the stage in my high heels.

It felt good that someone with immense talent believed in me. I think that is something many of her students felt — supported.

The following school year I took Sex, Myth and Media with her because I wanted to continuously learn more from someone who was so wise.

I enjoyed her perspectives on the changing climate of the media and how willing she was to listen to everyone’s opinions.

She cared so much about her students.

After I presented about two books (“Fancy Nancy” and “Madeline”) in her class, she said that she enjoyed them so much she would buy them for her granddaughter, Sophia.

It was moments like those that made me happy to be a student in her class.

I will be forever grateful that I got to be one of the many people whose lives were touched and changed forever by Maggie.

Kaitlyn Hughes can be reached at hughesk10@duq.edu