This time one year ago, I was readying myself for the end of one of the strangest semesters of college I experienced.
As editor-in-chief at the time, many of my decisions came from consulting with past Evergreeners people who really understood my position, who had faced the long nights and constant university-wide criticism. The pandemic had no living consultants for me to go to the last time the Evergreen newsroom was upended by a viral outbreak was in the early 20th century, so that was pretty much out of the picture.
Like many of us, I had a lot of time to just sit and think. My mental health fluctuated, I had several major life-changing events happen in what seemed like rapid succession, and, most importantly, I had dedicated myself to a job I no longer felt capable of doing.
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I’ll admit it: I have tried writing and rewriting this letter many times this semester, but I always feel like what I write doesn’t do justice to my experience here at the Evergreen. I’ve been on staff here for my entire college career, a whole eight semesters and a summer. I’ve poured my entire heart and soul into this job over the last four years and I would be lying if I said leaving here wasn’t going to hurt.
I came into the newsroom for the first time as this shy freshman, not speaking if I didn’t have to and leaving when my job was done. Eventually, though, the people in the newsroom wore me down. I began to open up and become essentially a new person; my entire life I had always been a shy, quiet person. Now, if you were to ask any of the people I work with, they’d say I’m the exact opposite.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. As I graduate in a little over a week, my time at The Daily Evergreen will come to a close.
When I first came to WSU, I was incredibly shy, quiet, and I did not get out much. At the risk of sounding cliché, I was a small fish in a big pond. While I relatively enjoyed my first year here, needless to say, I kept my head down and went about my business.
Cut to the summer before sophomore year, I found out there was a job opening for a photographer for The Daily Evergreen. Not only could I use the extra money, but I was also very passionate about photography, so I jumped at the chance and applied right away.
As the tassels turn on May 8, I will be considered a WSU alumna. I will virtually say goodbye to friends at The Daily Evergreen and peers from other WSU organizations I have been involved in.
My love for writing started as a young child. I am not sure when exactly I knew I loved the written word. Maybe it was during the times I would visit my dad’s high school English classroom. His bookshelves were lined with classics like “The Odyssey” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Maybe it was the Sunday comics my mom would hand me that popped with color the black and white pages were just as good.