Eighty-nine papers later...

Before I ever stepped foot on the campus of Southern Adventist University my freshman year, I already had a job at the Southern Accent newspaper.

And when I left campus for the last time as a student, less than two months before graduation because of the novel coronavirus, I was still chasing stories.

The Accent is my child, and all who have loved it as much as I do have become quick, quality friends. Other than the relationships I have made, it will be the thing I miss most about college.

The Accent has always taken priority over my classes, just ask any of my teachers (or my General Chemistry II grade RIP).

I’ve worked on 89 issues of the paper, and each of them was worth the late nights, the long transcriptions, and the lost sleep.

I’ve napped in the comfy chair in the office on the regular, designed pages in the back of a moving vehicle and quit my second job while staring through tears at all of the copies of the Accent hanging on the office wall when life became too much to balance.

I’ve watched the same funny dog video a million times, listened to more soundtracks than I thought possible and always made sure to give the high schoolers on my tours a sneak peek of the office.

I’m beyond grateful for all who made these experiences possible.

Each time Professor Alva James-Johnson asks me what the paper is going to do without me, I can’t help but think what in the world am I going to do without it.

I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know this experience has prepared me well for whatever is to come. I’ve got a trunk full of old newspapers, an affinity for local, relevant news and memories to last a lifetime.

Just trust me when I tell you there is no job like being a student journalist.

Now for a bunch of thank yous because it would feel wrong not to at this point.

Thank you Sierra Emilaire for giving me my first staff job.

Thank you Natalia Perez for realizing I wanted to be news editor without us ever discussing it and for your and Phillip’s continued friendship.

Paola Mora Zepeda, thanks for letting me convince you to apply to be EIC because you’ve been killing it.

Joel Guerra, even though I always rolled my eyes at your antics, thank you for bringing joy to the office.

Paola and Joel, thanks for making this the best year I’ve ever seen for the Accent. You both have a taste for news like no one else I ever worked with and I will truly miss our dynamic this year.

Professor Alva Johnson, thank you for believing in me and for advising us during these crazy times.

To the school of Journalism and Communication, thank you for being the best department on campus.

Myron Madden, thanks for answering all my questions and validating my experience whenever I felt like my life was falling apart while I was EIC.

Rosana Hughes, thanks for always answering my messages and for letting me follow you around that one time.

Daniel Olson and Professor Natalia Lopez Thismon, thank you for advising a crazy group of nosy journalists.

Andy Nash, thank you for pushing my news writing and my feature writing, even though all I turned most of my pieces in Magazine and Feature Writing turned into news features.

David Ragsdale, thanks for fostering my love for journalism on the staff of the ODYSSEY Newsmagazine and for seeing something in me even when I was a shy 15-year-old who never talked. (Now I’m an introverted 22-year-old who loves to talk.)

Janell Hullquist, thank you for our long chats and for making me write all of those features even though it was like pulling teeth sometimes I’m sure.

Sierra Correia, thanks for being my roommate and best friend through four years of me coming in way past your bedtime.

Ari, Mish, Michaela and Daijah, thanks for being my squad. #squadgoals

Rachel Harper, thanks for being the one (and probably only) Art Director the Accent has ever had. and for helping me bring my vision for the paper to life.

Kristen Vonnoh, thanks for being the Managing Editor to my EIC and for keeping the office tidy despite my less-than-organized chaos.

Brandon Beneche and Natalia, thanks for derping around with me in the office. 2018-2019 was the most fun I ever had on staff.

Student Association 2019-2020, you all are the GOATs of Student Government and I couldn’t have had a better experience working with and supporting each of you.

Lena Giltner, Bruno Benna and Joel, thanks for validating my taste in music.

All my fellow 2018 MSCNE Editors, I can’t wait to watch you all excel in whatever you do as the next generation of journalists.

First-Year Experience/Advisement Team, thanks for not hiring me when I applied for a job as a desk worker freshman year. You were right; there was a better place for me on campus.

Admissions, thank you for letting me give tours my senior year when I finally made some free time. I loved getting to see the campus I love through the eyes of high schoolers. (I may or may not have nudged more than my fair share of students towards the School of Journalism and Communication.)

And a special shoutout to every single designer the Accent has ever had. Laying out pages during the pandemic has given me even more respect for the work that you all do.

Thanks to every Accent staff member that’s ever worked with me and to anyone who has influenced me in any way for the better.

Thanks to my family and to God for my firm foundation.

(If I forgot to add you and you should be here just message me. Online school has melted my brain.)