After being rejected from The Daily Texan five times my freshman year, I wasn’t sure I was cut out to be a journalist. 

I vividly remember calling my mom, in tears, and promising that I would give everything I had to the Texan if I could just be accepted on staff. Since then, I haven’t taken a single moment for granted. While this is certainly not how I expected things to end, I can’t imagine having a better group of people to spend this experience with. From reporting six stories a week to staying up until 3:00 a.m. tweeting from the main account, I’ll always remember how lucky I am to be a part of the Texan.

The stories I never published, the many mistakes I’ve made and the goals I never accomplished still keep me up at night. But after seven semesters of tweeting, reporting and editing, one thing I’ll never regret is not giving up. So, here’s to the people who never gave up on me:

Forrest and Catherine, I will never be able to thank you enough for all the opportunities you gave me that I definitely did not deserve. Everything I’ve ever accomplished in college was because of you both, and I hope I’ve made you proud. 

Lisa, I’m so lucky to be able to call you my friend, mentor and editor. My shoulder to cry on. My go-to person for taco-eating and coffee-drinking. But most importantly, you’ve been my role model since day one. 

Sara, from J FIG 6 to department heads, I’ve been so blessed to experience the Texan with you by my side. You’re also one of the loveliest people I’ve ever met. Savana and Gracie, I’m still in disbelief I got to experience the Texan with great friends. You’ll never know how much I appreciate you sticking with me through the most stressful semester(s) of my life.

Chase, Claire and Ellie, thanks for teaching me how to be a better journalist and for picking up the phone when I called. Kirsten, Brittany and Tiana, I consider myself incredibly lucky to be a part of your management team. Rebeccah and Michael, there’s no way I would have survived this semester without y’all. Trin and Emily, I can’t wait to see how you change the world.

Peter, thanks for teaching me how to not get sued, and I guess I’ll forgive you for never pronouncing my last name right. To everyone else, from my staffers to my friends, thank you for helping me grow. Lastly, mom and dad, thanks for the unconditional support of my dreams. 

And to anyone who stumbles upon this column and is thinking about joining the Texan, apply. And then apply again and again until you’ve given everything you have to this paper.

I speak from experience when I say it’s worth it.