Writing emotional goodbye letters has never really been my thing. Why write an extended farewell when there are so many memes that could do the job for me? Alas, I must boldly go where all of my Campanil predecessors have gone before and write something.
I came to Mills with an idea of who I would be, but that idea morphed into something completely different. I fully expected to major in a social science; I thought that would be the only way to get a job after graduation. Joining The Campanil made me realize I needed to stay in my lane and stick to being an English major, and that writing has always been, and will always be, all I want to do.
The Campanil is where I’ve truly felt a sense of community. Every year I learn something from my fellow editors. We’ve had dance parties to destress from tough moments in our personal and school lives and we’ve gone to get Indian food when we feel emotionally drained. The newsroom is the place I’ve written many a paper, where I’ve learned the journalism code of ethics and memorized lyrics to Lonely Island songs, where I met the Cristina Yang to my Meredith Grey. The newsroom and the people in it have shaped me into a stronger, more resilient human.
There are far too many people to thank for me making it to this point, but I will attempt to squeeze this into my word count:
To all my fellow editors, past and present, thank you for putting up with my caffeine addiction, nerd references and scattered brain.
To Veronica and Alex, thank you for being my cushion outside the newsroom.
To Cynthia, Sarah and Kirsten, thank you for being mentors in academia and outside the classroom, and encouraging me in the projects I undertake.
To my wonderful, crazy family, thank you for the never-ending support in all areas of my life. I quite literally never would have made it without all of you and the photos of my dog you have sent me.
I would never have made it to this point without any of you. If I’m being completely honest, I have no clear idea of where I’m headed after Mills. That part of my future is still unclear. In the immortal words of Rick Sanchez: “Wubba lubba dub dub!” which roughly translates to “I’m in pain.” Leaving Mills pains me, and I’m not sure if I’m going to survive without the structure it has brought me. What I do know, though, is that I have the tools to help me figure that out, thanks to what I’ve learned from you. I want to believe I will have what it takes to make you all, and Mills, proud when I leave.
And even though a meme would have been more my style, I never would have been able to find one to convey the gravity of my appreciation.
