Kaysea Suzana | FIUURJ Media Coordinator

FIU Undergraduate Research Journal ceberates Valentine’s day by highlighting the friendship of one of its student writer and editor pairs!

Naya Quintana and Maria Galiano are two close friends who noticed their friendship bloom during their collaborative work as editor and writer together at the journal.

Were you friends before your time working together or did you meet in FIUURJ?

Naya: We originally met in the CEW Bookclub before we knew we were going to be editor and writer together. We were just hanging out.

Maria: We’d just hang out without really knowing our paths were so connected.

Naya: I think we bonded a lot at NCPTW national, a lot of us at the Writing Center went together in November to Pittsburgh for a conference, and by happenstance, Maria and I ended up sharing a hotel room, which was totally accidental.

Maria: It actually happened the day we got there.

Naya: We decided on it the day of. It ended up being the best thing ever, because Maria is literally the best roommate ever.

Maria: The day we got there was a little chaotic because Xuan hadn’t landed yet. So, we were like responsible for trying to figure out the hotel situation and she had all the credentials and information for the hotel.

Naya: We ended up calling Xuan and we realized that Maria didn’t have a roommate, because we had all texted about arrangements, but we hadn’t really figured it out where she was going to stay. And then I was like, she can just stay with me. That’s fine. And it worked out great.

As friends in the URJ, as in the writing/editing process, what advice do you have for other students starting out?

Naya: Keep it casual, you know. Don’t make it seem so high stakes. Because that just causes tension in the writer-editor relationship. I think we’ve kept it pretty casual and like, you know, we take things as they go. 

Maria: I think for me, what also helped was seeing Naya at the Writing Center, because I didn’t feel the need to be so like professional with my emails.

Naya: Maria knows how I talk and how I act. So she doesn’t have to be like: “Good day Maria, best. Or I need your help with this part of my manuscript.”

In your work, what were some memorable moments you’ve had?

Naya: When we were in Pittsburgh and we were working on editing Maria’s manuscript at one in the morning, right before the deadline! It was fun. Chaotic but fun.  It was fun because everyone was like the singing and having a good time in the room and we were there on the laptop in a little corner on the right trying to edit her manuscript.

Maria: It was essentially a pajama party. When we were editing the manuscript with everyone in the room. And we all had face masks on and we were in our pajamas. The masks were these BTS themed sheet masks.

When you guys have disagreements, how do you two handle them?

Naya &  Maria: I don’t think we’ve ever had a disagreement.

How about a difference in opinion?

Naya: A compromise. Half-and-a-half.

Maria: Pretty equal in equality.

Naya: She sacrifices herself. She’s selfless.

What is something that you bond over in friendship?

Maria: Stress, stress, stress.

Naya: We complement each other a lot. I feel like our style and interests are adjacent. Like Maria wears some really cute mushroom stuff all the time. And cookie earrings. I bought Maria frog earrings. And she’ll come in with them sometimes.

Maria: I always love the shoes Naya wearing. They’re full of beads. I’ve actually been thinking of acquiring some beads for my converse.

Naya: I like being comfortable and I like cute things. Artsy things like graphics. Colors. I like wearing high socks. I like oversized things so I feel small.

Maria: I like cute graphic tees. I like wearing colorful things. Very accessorized. And wearing a lot of like colorful pants.

If you guys were to hang out, what would you do?

Naya: Probably Karaoke.

Maria: The first time we did karaoke together was at Pittsburgh when we went with the group.

Naya: We were supporting each other because it was the first time we both sang at karaoke. We were both really anxious. Maria sang twice actually.

Maria: The first song I sang was Tear In My Heart by Twenty-One Pilots, and a duet with Mario on I’m Not Okay by My Chemical Romance.

The journal is currently in the process of publishing its second issue, both physically and digitally. Make sure to follow the social media and website to be updated!