The time has come for me to say farewell.

I have been honored to serve on The Slate staff since Day 1 of my freshman year in the fall of 2013. Now, my graduation is about one month away and it is time to pass on the role of editor-in-chief to another, very deserving successor.

Through my time at The Slate, I have covered lectures, construction, rallies, marches, concerts, fires and even the faculty strike. I pushed deadlines, writing until 1 or 2 a.m., edited thousands of photos and ran around every inch of campus trying not to drop my camcorder and tripod. Many times, I shirked my responsibilities for classes or canceled dates with friends so I could spend another hour working for The Slate.

I started out as the assistant news editor. My first story was about the new heating and cooling systems installed in the residence halls – very exciting. Sometimes, I cringe reading my old writing, but I can see my growth in it, too.

I moved my way up to news editor and, come junior year, I had the position I always wanted – editor-in-chief.

It hasn’t been easy. Anyone in student media can tell you that. Inside Room 250 of the Ceddia Union Building (CUB), I’ve laughed and cried, like every chief before me. I remember seeing my first article printed in the newspaper, jumping around the office in excitement. Then years later, picking up the first edition I produced as editor-in-chief, after searching frantically with my managing editor for the misplaced bundles in the CUB.

Today, I will be holding my last edition in my hands, terrified of letting go.

To every student who has served on The Slate staff, thank you. Each and every one of you has had a part in teaching me how to be a better writer, photographer, leader and friend. Readers, the product you now hold or view online is the result of countless hours of work put in by volunteers. The Slate staff is made up of an incredibly gifted group of people, and I hope you can recognize their talent. We make mistakes sometimes, but every error makes us better journalists.

Those who devote themselves to student media are some of the hardest working people I have ever met — and they’re going to be successful alumni because of their involvement. If you are in the communication/journalism major, I urge you to get involved in student media as soon as possible. Working on The Slate made my classes easier and my portfolio larger.

As I walk across the stage at graduation, 32 days from now, there will be one professor who comes to mind, one who is responsible for my success, and that of every Slate alumnus. Dr. Michael Drager allowed me to visit his editing class when I was a senior in high school, unsure of where my college path would go.

On that day he taught us about counting characters in headlines and how to copyfit. He nearly wrote on the projector screen with an Expo marker, thinking it was the whiteboard. All of the students laughed and I did, too. From that day on, I knew Drager would be my mentor. Thank you, Dr. Drager, for all you have done for me. I promise to work hard so I can pay for your Social Security.

Shippensburg University, you have fully prepared me for the world of journalism, and I cannot wait to show everyone what Raiders are made of.

You’re all stars.

Share