I have to open with a sincere thank you for making The Daily Campus the best thing I’ve ever done. To the dear friends I’ve made during my time pretending to be a journalist here and my family (who will likely all want a copy of this hardly profound final statement): You all mean a lot to me. That includes any copy editors taking on this final shift, props to you.
To be honest, I don’t want to make this article about me. To keep it brief, I spent some time at UConn Waterbury and considered dropping out. Thankfully I didn’t, thanks to the former-former Artist Editor Kaitlyn Tran. She suggested I write for a history column, This Week in History. The rest — as my one or two colleagues in the history major say — is history.
Since that moment in September 2022, I’ve somehow stumbled into all the right doorways and worked in this paper as a copy editor and board member. I’ve even had the joy of being the Life section editor. What the heck, how lucky can you get?
Really, this isn’t about me, though. The joy I get from this place is from being around passionate and truly kind people who make the whole paper possible. There’s something so special about a group coming together to make something larger than themselves, and rarely in life will you find a place so comforting and full of gifted people.
So here comes the hard part: Who do I thank and how do I thank them?
Well first, to the incoming Life editors Dan and Sam, you both are truly amazing people, and I’m always blown away by all of the work you put into this paper. You’ll take the section to new heights and keep the good vibrations flowing. Keep at it, I’ll be reading.
To the entire DC Dungeons and Dragons crew, thank you for making that adventure possible. I’ll never forget our weekly Chili’s runs. From scribbling love letters on napkins to watching the full man sandwich on the big screen, you all are the best. While I’m at it, I’d like to thank everyone who made the Freak Corner a reality — even if I protested the name.
To Karla, thank you for a great year leading the Life section in 2023-2024. You are an exceptional person, and I’m grateful to have been able to work alongside you. I can’t wait to see the direction you lead the DC next year as the editor in chief. You’ve totally earned it.
To Connor, what a brilliant and outstanding guy you are. Thank you for imparting just a bit of your passion and motivation to me. You’re someone who doesn’t settle and gives everything your all. That’s really rubbed off on me, even if I’ve got a long way to go yet. You’re pretty much the real-life Monkey D. Luffy, the king of the pirates. You’re a bit of a problem, a genetic freak. It’s been an honor to sing the song of angry men beside you on many occasions. Go far, I know you can!
To James, the absolute legend and GOAT Life editor, thank you for keeping Life alive. You’re a good lad and a dear friend, I’m really grateful that we both made the journey from Waterbury to the DC. I wouldn’t have landed on my feet if it wasn’t for you.
Alright, that’s enough sappy-happy script writing. If you can’t tell already, I’m not really good at writing profound things. I’m a history nerd, not a poet. Just know that this heartfelt thank you is for everyone at the DC, many of whom I couldn’t name directly.
I’d like to end with what I consider to be a great privilege of mine these past two years as an editor. Watching each writer in the Life section improve with every article has brought me sincere joy. You all persevered through the workshopping edits and grew as people along the way. To maybe have had even a tiny role in your growth has been a great gift from this paper. I’ll miss that a lot.
So, take care everyone. I hope to see many of you soon.
Oh, and to the Rizzler Enthusiast… watch out, I’ll catch you someday.
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