At long last, it is time for me to say farewell, and what a bittersweet farewell it will be.
If I had to describe my college experience, it would be a wild adventure, where the only consistency was constant change. From shifts in friend-groups, new relationships, a global pandemic, and completely changing my career goals and aspirations, it always felt as if I was reinventing myself every semester. With growth comes growing pains, as well as new opportunities; however, no matter what occurred, one consistency that I always had within my life was working with The Pacer.
I started attending meetings back in Fall of 2019 and was immediately intrigued by the world of journalism. I have always felt a strong connection toward education and communicating the human experience, and writing for the student newspaper felt like the perfect avenue for those ventures. While I admittedly had very little confidence in my writing ability at first and felt apprehensive about publishing my work, I was spurred on by my peers, and I decided to stick with writing and working for The Pacer. I am eternally grateful that I did, as I have grown exponentially in both my personal and professional life as a result of this experience.
It is customary in these farewells to thank those who have made an impact on your college experience. Admittedly, if I listed everyone I can think of, this farewell would last the majority of the paper. To spare readers, I’ll only mention a few.
To Trenton, my brother, it has been a wonderful experience getting to work with you over the past couple of years. It’s been wonderful to see you grow in your confidence and creativity, and I am so excited to witness what amazing things you accomplish in your college career. Michons stick together, so don’t forget to call me every once in a while when things go haywire (or when someone once again mistakenly calls you John).
Sarah, my fellow co-executive editor, thank you for all the layout night shenanigans, talks in the office and general support. You have been an amazing partner and friend these past few months, and I genuinely don’t know what I would do without you. I leave the shared brain cell with you. Take care, good luck, and I cannot wait to see what amazing things you accomplish with The Pacer and our amazing staff.
Antonia, my lovely roommate, you have become one of my closest friends over these past few years. Thank you for introducing me to The Pacer, as well as for all the late-night rants in the kitchen, silly inside jokes, and support within Scholars as my mentor. You’ve helped me grow as a leader and showed me what a great executive editor looks like. I am truly grateful for our time together as both coworkers and friends; please keep in touch, as I cannot wait to hear more about your adventures and accomplishments as a #girlboss.
Finally, to Ms. Tomi, no words will ever express how truly grateful I am for all of your support and advice. From Tomi-lore stories, two-hour advising meetings, and early morning writing sessions and layout nights, I honestly don’t know how I would be where I am without you. You listened to me express my crazy idea about pursuing a double major and validated all the aspirations I had for my college career. Your consistent belief in me and support in pursuing a career in natural resource conservation means so much to me. You have truly helped me grow as a writer, a professional and a person, and I am so happy for you as you move towards retirement. You deserve it.
As I mentioned previously, there are many others who have helped me throughout my college experience, including Dr. Smartt and Dr. Wolters, two people who have been instrumental in helping me achieve my goal of pursuing a double major and working for parks and conservation. Thank you for always willingly answering my questions, numerous as they may be, and believing in me despite the odds.
As for my parting words with you, dear readers, I will leave you with this: Take chances, believe in yourself, and don’t be afraid to change. College is about getting a degree, yes, but it is also about discovering who you are, your goals and your passions within life. Take that internship, go on that road-trip, and say yes to that strange-yet-intriguing elective course. After all, life is a highway, so ride it, and see where it takes you.
