College doesn’t always feel like home right away. But there comes a time when campus stops feeling like a place you go to school and starts feeling like a place where you belong. For Emily Carmela Nelson, editor-in-chief of The Arbiter, that time came from saying ‘yes’ to something that pulled her into the middle of campus life: student media.
Curiosity to Belonging
Emily grew up in Idaho and always pictured herself at Boise State. She arrived excited, motivated and ready to build a future in journalism, but her path into student media didn’t start with a big speech or a dramatic “this is my calling” moment. It started with curiosity, and a simple next step: applying to write for The Arbiter’s culture section.
“As a first-gen college student, student media gave me the community I needed to feel connected to college,” Emily said. “My freshman year, I was doing an internship in a professional newsroom and felt distant from the college experience. Student media gave me space to feel like a college student and meet other people my age who were interested in similar things.”
The Arbiter wasn’t just another line on her resume. It was a place to show up, learn and build friendships while doing meaningful work.
Inside the Newsroom
Walk into the Student Media office and you’ll see what Emily means. The energy feels collaborative, from people brainstorming story angles to trading ideas and laughing between deadlines. It’s fast-paced but welcoming.
“It’s fun working with other students in the newsroom, learning from each other, and sharing that curiosity,” Emily said.
The Arbiter’s job is to reflect Boise State as it really is: the big stories, the small moments, the hidden corners of campus life that deserve attention.
And the best part? You don’t have to be an expert to start.
Discovering Campus Through Reporting
One reason student media is such a powerful way to get involved is that it forces you to pay attention. You start noticing what’s happening around you: events, exhibitions, student organizations, conversations people are already having online and in class. You don’t just attend Boise State, you learn it.
“It was fantastic because through reporting, I’m constantly learning more about my university,” she said.
That might look like writing a profile on a student artist whose work is on display at the SUB, covering a campus event you never would’ve gone to otherwise, or talking to people you wouldn’t normally meet in your day-to-day routine. Over time, you feel more connected because you become an expert on ways to get involved.
A Community to Grow With
For first-generation college students, that sense of connection can be even more important. Emily describes starting college as exciting, but also daunting. She didn’t always know what to expect, and like a lot of students, she was searching for a place that felt comfortable. Student media became that place.
It gave her a community to learn with, people to lean on and mentors who helped her grow both personally and professionally. Being part of The Arbiter helped her build real momentum: a stronger resume, stronger skills, and a clearer idea of where she wants to go next.
And maybe most importantly, it gave her something that’s hard to measure but easy to feel: belonging.
How to Get Involved with The Arbiter
Interested in working in a lively newsroom and building a professional portfolio?
Student Media is seeking reporters, photographers and designers to join their team for the 2026-27 academic year. These paid positions are open to all Boise State students, regardless of major. The Arbiter also offers unpaid internship opportunities for those looking to get involved without the production requirements of a paid position. Students can learn more and apply on Handshake before Sunday, April 5.
If you’re looking for a sign to get involved, this might be it: pick up the paper, reach out, show up to a meeting or apply for a position.