As someone who was so heavily involved in their high school journalism program, I was desperate for the Texan to hire me. So with all of the pressure riding on that, of course, I got food poisoning from the dining hall the day of my tryout editing session. Absolutely disgusting. The then Life&Arts editor, Mimi, thankfully let me do edits over Zoom that day, and despite my having to turn off the camera a couple times to chug some Gatorade, I got the job!

It wasn’t long before I was finding some of the most randomly incredible alumni and student stories, all of which took pure luck to find and cover. It was like I was destined to learn from each of my sources, because I became a happier and more creatively inspired individual with each person I interviewed.

Being a ‘Lartist’ made my world more whimsical, and I’ll carry that with me forever. Every story taught me more about life, its challenges and all of the ways people make change and artistry from that. Each adventure further into Austin forced me to fall in love with it all. I love art more now, I love movies more now, I love music more now, I even love theater so much now that this weekend I am acting in a class I wrote about for the Texan!

With that said, my first thank you is to all of the amazing people who allowed me to interview them these past five semesters. The trust you each showed me in sharing your stories is overwhelming, and you’ve led me to life in a more beautiful, artsy light.

Thank you, Mimi, for inspiring me with your confidence and support. Because of you, I got my first cover story, my first red carpet coverage and I found a home in the Basement walls.

Thank you, Amelia, with whom I spent my 19th birthday covering Olivia Rodrigo with and, from there, many more concerts. I feel indescribably lucky to know you and learn from you. Thank you, Minza, who made me love Tuesdays and Thursdays because it meant I got to edit and hang out with her! I am so thankful to know your encouragement and incredible kindness. Amelia and Minza, you are two of my best friends. You are each uniquely wondrous, and I love you dearly.

Thank you, Charlotte, Sabrina and Jane — who are the first people I met in the department and are some of the best, most angelic people I’ve ever met. You each are so funny and loving, and I can’t fathom how I deserve your friendship!

Thank you, Trinity, who allowed me to stumble as an editor because she was such a wonderful teammate. Working with you and becoming your friend was truly a treat. I couldn’t have done this with anyone else. I’ll cherish our festival memories and your kindness, always.

Thank you to Analise and Riddhi for being the greatest desk editors. Thank you to Brynn, Angelina and Charlotte for being such amazing senior reporters. Thank you, Brynn, especially, for allowing me to drag you into our second newsroom together — I love you tons! Thank you to my whole staff and everyone I’ve made friends with in each of the departments, whom I don’t have room to name, for giving me a community I’ve adored.

While any outsider would think wanting a college newspaper job so badly was ridiculous, I knew Life&Arts would change my life. It’s sad for me to think that closing my chapter with The Daily Texan is me losing the best job I may ever have, but I’d like to consider myself lucky to have had such a dream-come-true gig so young.