Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in the May 4 issue of The Daily Texan.

I’ve been writing this column in my head for over a year now.

Since June 1, I’ve cried, laughed, screamed and developed a semithick skin. My life coach said I should focus on the ways in which I’ve thrived, but I think I’ll just self-indulge instead. From the beginning, I knew this column had to be about thanking the people who got me through these hellish 12 months. 

First, to my columnists. You all showed incredible tenacity throughout these three semesters. You’ve written columns I will forever be proud of. Thank you for trusting me and taking my advice. I hope to see many of you come back to work here.

To my illustrators — thank you for producing beautiful art for this department. Abriella, thank you for being so reliable, despite the (is it two or three?) other jobs you work. Charlie, thank you for making us laugh.

To the talented department heads and members of management I worked with — I’ve learned so much from you all. Megan M., thank you for endorsing all my skills on LinkedIn (ha). 

I’ve made so many friends outside the opinion department this year. Christina, Megan F., Eunice and Phoebe, page edits have actually been fun thanks to y’all. Lawson, let’s get drinks and catch up before we graduate. Irissa, I think our only option is to just go see HAIM in concert. You better come visit me. (Also, don’t look now, but it’s May.)

Laura, thank you for talking me through my first baby steps as editor back in June. Spencer, thank you for spending who knows how many hours on the phone with me last year talking me through the ins and outs of this job. Bella, thank you for our spontaneous trips to that sushi place in West Campus — and for just being you. 

Gerald, thank you for always answering my calls. Peter, thank you for pushing me to trust my own judgement. To the rest of the TSM staff: Emily, Frank, Pam and Michael — thank you for rolling with the punches with us.

To my beautiful forum ladies, Maria and Daisy: You both deserve better than this past year. Thank you for sticking with me and for letting me rant. This silly student newspaper does not deserve you.

My editors: Jennifer, Julia, Abby D., Hannah, Izzy — I’m so sorry we didn’t get to work in the basement this year. Do you have any idea how excited I was to force my favorite songs down your throats while we worked in the office together? Thank you for saving my ass time and time again. You all have the brightest of bright futures ahead of you. 

Angélica, you always know what to say. You are the kindest, wisest, most assuring person I know, and you give the best advice. Thank you, thank you, thank you. 

Liza, Peter routinely tells me not to compare myself to you — he must be worried about my self-esteem. How do I thank the person that taught me everything I know? We’ll talk later. Let’s go be big-city bitches together next year. 

Sanika: You have no idea how incredibly excited I am for you to take over. Your ideas are already better than mine were when I started, and you’re a force to be reckoned with. Call me anytime. I mean it. 

When I graduate this month, it’ll feel like everything’s ending at once. Thank you all for making this worth it.

Caldwell is a Latin American studies and journalism senior from College Station, Texas. She was the editor-in-chief.