As of June 2017, there are 271 WWU students that are either journalism majors or pre-majors. We write together, we cry together and we consider dropping out together — but we don't! (I feel like we should get some credit for that.)

There is no greater bond than the friendships you make by simply realizing that you have both struggled through writing on The Western Front. Somehow you have the exact same schedule with a dozen people throughout the entire two years (maybe three depending on how many times you failed The Front). You spend 40 hours a week in the journalism labs and honestly, you can spot a J-kid from a mile away.

We embody stereotypes, regardless of what track you're on, and can all relate to certain ideas, feelings and actions.

1. You read The Front, Klipsun Magazine and The Planet religiously.

Walking around on the second floor of the comm building the day The Front comes out is a freaking hazard. Every journalism student has their head buried in the paper and a collision is bound to happen.

2. You judge people by their grammar.

I'm kind of terrified for you to read this. Please don't judge me. K, thanks.

3. Your non-journalism major friends don't get your jokes sometimes.

"Slow news day?"

4. Prof. John Harris is your fashion icon.

He rocks a flannel and corduroy pants every day. What more could you want from your closet?

5. You have so much respect for Prof. Carolyn Neilson.

She is an amazing reporter, teacher and certified badass. You are terrified of her (because she is that good) but you also want to be her.

6. You are intimidated by VJ people.

They are just so cool without trying to be cool, which is the most intimidating type of cool.

7. You think PR people are preppy monsters.

I'm a PR person so I know this isn't true... But I mean, it's also pretty true.

8. You have a love-hate relationship with news ed people.

You love them because they are noble and talented, but you hate them because they think they are the "best" track.

9. You have mixed feelings about The Front.

In retrospect, The Front was an amazing learning opportunity, was a blast and a chance to be a real journalist. But in the moment, it consumed your life and made you cry at least once a week.

10. You suddenly think of every situation as an ethical dilemma.

"It's a right vs. right," you say to someone who has no idea what you are talking about because they haven't taken mass media ethics.

11. You own a tiny notebook.

J207 taught you that tiny notebooks are convenient and usable for more than just field notes.

12. Your friends ask for help with their writing.

Prof. Maria McLeod said this was gonna happen.

13. You think your major is the best on campus.

Sure, supply chain management graduates get jobs 100% of the time but do they ever win Pulitzer Prizes like our alumni? I'm going to go with no.

14. You know who people are based on bylines.

It feels a little creepy when you meet people and can describe their style of writing.

15. You are competitive.

It is healthy and drives you to do better.

16. You subscribe to every newspaper known to man.

Shout-out to student discounts.

17. You consume news at all hours of the day.

You probably read the newspaper, watch broadcast news, have alerts on your phone, download every news outlet app, follow journalists on Twitter, and scroll through the news outlets discovery pages on Snapchat while you're on the toilet.

18. People expect you to know what is going on all over the world.

We do make excellent citizens of the world.

19. People also expect you to be extremely tech-savvy.

Fortunately, we do know InDesign, Final Cut, "social media," anything by Microsoft, how to operate cameras and anything tech related.

20. AP style guide is your bible.

OK, I get that this isn't in AP style but I did that on purpose.

21. Whenever you tell a Republican your major, they talk about #FakeNews.

You have to refrain from physical violence.

22. You have been harassed to write on Odyssey.

Lol, my bad.