Since moving onto campus four years ago, I’ve gone through three majors, given myself a lot of mediocre haircuts, gotten a tattoo, did a lot of math, decided never to do any more math, read a lot, wrote a lot, forgot things, eaten a lot of Cheerios and a lot of frozen peas, sent a lot of emails, received even more, sang some karaoke and climbed the 46 stairs to the third floor of Witherspoon Student Center upward of a thousand times.
Witherspoon 323 has been my home for the past year and a secondary one for the three years before that. Today, I climbed those stairs for the last time as Technician’s Editor-in-Chief.
Serving in this position has been the most humbling experience of my life. It has tested my work ethic, my morals, my patience, my communication skills and showed me endless areas for my own improvement.
It has also given me purpose, intention, guidance and more laughter than I experienced in my first 18 years combined.
The people I have had the privilege of working with through Student Media have changed the way I see the world and think about collaboration. They are driven and sharp, and anything I have accomplished at Technician is thanks mostly, if not wholly, to them.
With that said, I’ll keep the thank yous brief. Expect a gushy letter from me soon.
Ethan, it’s only in retrospect that I understand the weight of the chance we took on one another, and I am endlessly grateful to you for your hard work and passion. I can’t imagine beginning to take on EIC without you. I think we did alright.
Emily, thank you for the laughs, the endless knowledge, the public records, the popcorn, the energy and some of the finest student reporting I’ve ever seen. Follow your dreams. Never quit.
Ben, thank you for the listening, the supportive shoulder, the pep talks and the reality checks.
Patrick, thank you for making Student Media what it is, for making every one of us feel valued.
Ellie, thank you for making the paper. Every week. And the 2 a.m. rides home. Every week.
To the entire Vol. 104 e-board, thank you for pushing me to be a better leader. You are the heart and soul of this publication, and it has been an honor to see your dedication and creativity.
The 201 girls, thank you for being my family, for welcoming me instantly and for loving me endlessly.
Clara, Zoe and Harrison, thank you for the rides and the knowledge that no matter how bad my day was, I had a home to go back to where my best friends would give me a hug or a shoulder or an ear or a laugh or a meal or all five at once. There are so many ways I would not be who I am without you.
I’m looking forward to regaining my Sunday evenings and Tuesday nights and all the time in between. I’m looking forward to sleeping without stress dreams about the paper. I’m looking forward to sleeping, period.
But most of all, I’m looking forward to seeing the great work I know Vol. 105 will do next year. It’s gonna be a big one, but I have every faith that next year’s team is up to the challenge.
Kate, Ethan and Justin, y’all got this. The horrors prevail, but so will you.
