By: Paige Brown
In less than a month, my college career comes to an end.
The idea that I will no longer be fighting for parking spots or going crazy in the wee hours of the morning on layout nights is bittersweet. Not only am I leaving the stress behind, but also all the memories I have made here.
This last year, I have made some of the best friends here at Central that I know will be in my life forever. Working with The Recorder is something that has done more than keep me here until 5 a.m. and build up my resume.
After working closely with my predecessor, Amanda Webster, I learned a lot about how the newspaper works behind the scenes. I enjoyed the long nights, hard work and creativity that went into our finished product. Seeing something published and printed and knowing that I first handedly put work into was rewarding.
After a few people mentioned the idea and pushed me towards running for Editor-in-Chief and knowing that I only had one more semester left, I decided to go for it.
With the support from the staff, I won the election. I have spent the last five months leading an incredible group of people and producing a product that I am proud to have my name on.
The experience that The Recorder has given me is irreplaceable. I have learned more about responsibility, time management, leadership, deadlines and journalism as a whole this semester than I have in the last five years of college.
Besides the work, the people that I spend hours on end with each week have made my experience here much more interesting.
Brittany Hill, my Managing Editor, has become one of my closest friends. I can’t help but think that we wouldn’t have the relationship we have today if she wasn’t helping me lead this paper.
Saying that we have become a small family is an understatement. My staff has seen me at my best and my worst. I have seen them at their best and their worst. At the end of the day, we work together to produce a product that is benefiting all of our futures.
Some of these people I know will be in my life forever, though it does make me sad to know that after this week, I will not be spending almost 12 hours on a Monday night in a hot office that eventually smells like feet while we all start to go a little bit insane at four o’clock in the morning on Tuesday.
Well, I could maybe do without the smell of feet and the long nights, but it will be an adjustment.
Since this is my last column, I would like to take this chance to thank those who have supported me. Professors, friends, family and my staff. I wouldn’t have made it through college without all of you.
With the craziness of what life has thrown at me, The Recorder office has been my home away from home. To the select few that have been there for me this semester (you know who you are), thank you especially. From the long nights to the day-to-day humor that only we understand, you guys have been amazing.
In only a few weeks, I will be out of here. As great as that sounds, I am sorry to know that I am leaving all of this behind.
I am onto bigger things. Maybe graduate school, maybe a job with the NFL. Either way, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the people and experiences I have met and had here at Central.
It will be missed, but not forgotten.