What’s worse than being a science nerd who raves about science is being a science nerd who raves about science and writes about it.

Entering UT as a freshman this year, I had a feeling that I would spend half of my time stuck in a stress-oozing biology lab, but I didn’t expect that I’d spend the other half in a stress-oozing, windowless, newspaper-printing basement. Yet, here I am. 

I counted all the articles I’ve written for the Texan and it totaled to 34 — which I don’t think is too bad for a freshman. I’ve got a lot of people to thank for this:

Thank you to Sarah Bloodworth and Annie Zhang for not only being wonderful and inspiring science and technology editors, but also friends, mentors and guides for me during my first year of college. You guys are truly human beings of the highest quality.

Thank you to Cason Hunwick for recruiting me to the Texan and for always encouraging me to push the boundaries of science journalism.

Thank you to the entire scitech (now research) staff for helping me find sources, making me laugh, giving me advice on my articles and just being all-around amazing people.

Although I may spend a lot of time complaining about deadlines, the overwhelming time commitment necessary to write for this paper, and the tremendous stress that comes along with the job, I’ve got to say it was worth it. From scientists to surgeons and student researchers to student entrepreneurs, I’ve had the chance to meet and talk with incredible people across the Forty Acres. I’ve had the opportunity to share their stories with the entire UT community, all the while expanding my own appreciation for the beauty of science and technology.

As the mad genius scientist Rick Sanchez once said, “To live is to risk it all, otherwise you’re just an inert chunk of randomly assembled molecules drifting wherever the universe blows you.” So thank you to this basement for pushing me beyond what I thought I was capable of and showing me what it means to have a voice on this campus. I can’t wait to see what the next three years has in store for me.