As I prepare to leave The Daily Campus and move onto the next chapter of my life, I have one piece of advice for the readers: Don’t work here. I’ll tell you why. Once you’ve worked at The Daily Campus, you’ll have met some of the best people in the world and created some of your most memorable college experiences. Leaving will be devastating, and you’ll wish you never knew the love that fills that building, so you won’t have to live without it after you graduate.
So, don’t work at The Daily Campus if you’re not ready to leave it behind eventually. Ignorance is bliss!
But then again, the pain of leaving is worth all the happiness I got to experience while working for this paper. I started at the beginning of my senior year, first as a copy editor, then as associate digital editor and a weekly columnist. Though my time here was limited, it was unforgettable.
I want to take a moment to thank all my incredible friends who made my short time at The Daily Campus so valuable.
First and foremost, I’d like to thank Connor Lafferty for hiring me and making me feel welcome since day one. I can confidently say that there is nobody more outgoing and friendly than our wonderful managing editor, which is exactly what you want when diving into a new and uncertain environment.
Thank you to Jenna Outcalt, the first real friend I made at the DC, for letting me into your orbit. I truly believe sunshine follows you wherever you go, and I’ve felt so lucky to have such a kind and caring person in my life. I’m so glad you’re taking over “Hearing Double” not only because I know what a great job you’ll do, but also because it means I can still maintain a connection with you after I’m gone. SOBE and I will miss you!
Thank you Ben Lassy and James Fitzpatrick for giving me both the opportunity and the confidence to create my own column. Your support has been so important to me. You are truly the most entertaining duo I’ve ever met, and I’m glad I’ll never have to experience The Daily Campus without your presence. I wish you both all the best wherever life takes you.
Karla Perez and Noa Climor are some of the warmest people you’ll meet at The Daily Campus. When I started talking to you two, I felt like we had already been friends for ages. You have the kind of presence that makes people immediately feel comfortable around you. I wish I had met you both years ago, but I know in my heart that our friendships will last beyond my departure.
Thank you Connor Sharp for yapping with me for hours about anything and everything. As much as I love making fun of you, you’ve become one of my closest friends here. I may be graduating, but don’t think you can get rid of me that easily! Save a spot for me on the digital office couch for when I come back to haunt you and Ky’Lynn next year.
Last but not least, thank you to Ky’Lynn Monts. A few months ago, Ky’Lynn welcomed a random copy editor with no digital experience into her office, and she’s been one of my closest friends ever since. Our digital duo didn’t get all the time it deserved, but I’ll cherish all the memories we shared throughout the semester. I’ll miss you even if you did fire me multiple times per shift and threaten to blow up my house on Minecraft.
So, to anyone reading: I wouldn’t knock The Daily Campus just yet. Don’t get me wrong, it’s pretty cruel of these people to reel you in with their kindness and then hit you with the “you can’t stay here after you graduate” bomb. But it’s nice to exist in their world even just for a little bit.
When you finally have to say goodbye to The Daily Campus, I can promise you that you’ll be leaving kicking and screaming. I’m eternally grateful to have had an experience that has made it so hard to leave. I will carry with me the love and memories that this newspaper has brought me for the rest of my life. Peace out DC!