If you know me, you know I despise spring. Aside from the later sunsets and the aggressive allergy attacks, there’s another reason I have a negative disposition toward the season. To me, spring has always meant change.
In books, spring symbolizes new beginnings; but to start a new chapter, one has to end, and my chapter at the University of Connecticut is ending. There’s no way to sufficiently thank the people that shaped my experience here, but I’ll use the rest of my word count to try my best.
To the 2022-2023 Life Editors Esther and Joanne, thank you for taking a chance on me and encouraging me to apply for your roles. It was from you that I heard “I think you have so much potential” for the first time. I remind myself of that moment whenever I face self-doubt.
To my co-Life Editor Ben Lassy, thank you for always believing in me. You played an integral role in helping me join the New York Times Corps and becoming the DC’s editor-in-chief. You were always incredibly patient with me, and you were genuinely happy for the people around you. I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather tackle Life with.
To my CKC squad Connor and Colbi, thank you for giving me three years full of laughter. Connor, sitting across from you designing the Life pages while you designed Sports, I would have never anticipated the friendship we made that now I can’t imagine my life without. Colbi, you are one of the kindest people I’ve met, and I feel so lucky that you’ve let me be a part of your life. I’ll miss your weekly offering of baked goods!
To our spring 2025 Associate Digital Editor Justine and my successor Sam, I wish I’d met you both sooner. Justine, you don’t know how happy I am that you didn’t ditch us after graduation. Every time I see you, it’s as if you never left and our friendship’s been given a second life. Sam, your dedication to the paper is admirable, and that passion will drive you to do great things beyond Storrs.
To our Business Manager Hayden, thank you for putting up with my nagging about purchase requests, uploading the board agendas and for being the glue that held our exec team together. To Sharp, thank you for letting me rant about anything and everything. Even in times when I wish this wasn’t true, you’ve been one of my anchors.
To Jenna, thank you for always giving me a reason to smile. You are one of the most pure-hearted, selfless, funny and trustworthy people I’ve ever known. The love you pour into your friendships is exemplary, and I’m so thankful that our paths crossed. My only regret in our friendship is that it didn’t happen sooner.
To probably my best college friend: Ky’Lynn Motts. I’ve thought about how to write your graph for weeks and I still don’t think I’ll do it justice, but here goes. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for listening to me bitch and complain about life. You’ve been my rock; always able to ground me. I can’t imagine you not making me laugh every day next year. Please keep sending me airplane emojis and iMessage stickers. Thank you for always sticking by me.
It wouldn’t be in character for me to write my senior column and not talk about the second half of my personality: dance. There have been times when I didn’t want dance to be a part of my life anymore. But over and over again, I somehow found myself back in classes.
To the UConn Dance Company, thank you for giving me the community I desperately needed freshman year. I felt completely lost, but seeing all of your welcoming, smiling faces at co-time every Tuesday helped me feel a little less alone. Without UDC, I wouldn’t have had the energy or courage to join the DC.
To dance, thank you for 19 years of eight-hour rehearsal days, late night ballet classes, costumes I can’t believe I wore in public, a community, stability and yes, even four sprained ankles. I hope life finds a way to drag me back into studios for years to come. My love for writing could never overshadow all you’ve given me.
My freshman year self would never believe the wonderful life she made over the last four years. Thank you all for teaching me that change doesn’t have to be so scary.