I was one of those kids who said, “I can’t wait to leave my hometown,” and then ended up back in said hometown after college. It feels oddly fitting that as I reintroduce myself to Eau Claire in my first year back – and first months working at Volume One – it is also Volume One’s 20th anniversary. (Take a trip through the past 20 years with the big Volume One timeline on page 40 of the latest print issue.)

Finding my way back – and to Volume One no less – is kind of funny. Case in point: My older sister plastered Volume One covers on her bedroom walls when we were growing up, moved away for college, and now lives in another state; I covered those walls with One Direction posters, moved away for college, and landed a gig back in E.C., here. Imagine that. 

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I fell in love with the written word as a kid, and I now realize I’ve always been searching for a sort of understanding, and solace, in books and others’ words.

MCKENNA SCHERER

VOLUME ONE ASSOCIATE EDITOR

I fell in love with the written word as a kid, and I now realize I’ve always been searching for a sort of understanding, and solace, in books and others’ words. While mental health conversations have become less taboo, I’d argue they rarely occurred when I was growing up. My senior year of high school, I almost didn’t apply for college, simply because I had never planned on making it that far before. I graduated this May from Winona State University Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. I’d even dare to say, I’m really happy, too.

That being said, let me introduce myself to you, readers: Hi, I’m McKenna. I hope you’ll like having me around, because I’m falling in love with the Valley all over again.