It’s safe to say The Daily Texan has defined my time at college. My weekends have always consisted of researching pitches and brainstorming story angles, my weekdays of attending classes between interviews and crunching out rough drafts of stories. At night, I could be found in the Basement finishing edits of reporters’ stories and preparing to do it all again the next day.
I would not be the journalist I am today if I had not joined The Daily Texan in the fall of my freshman year. When I was asked if I wanted to apply for the news department that semester, I had one response — “What’s The Daily Texan?”
Little did I know how much the answer to that question would change my life.
Though I have undoubtedly grown over the past three years from the student whose journalism background consisted of a passion to write, I still have so much more to learn. My time at the Texan might have come to an end, but my dedication to journalism has not.
To the news editors I’ve worked with — Sam, Tori, Joelle & Kylee — thank you for showing me how to be a leader. You all laid the foundation that I built on last semester, and the news department would not be what it is today without you.
Pili, your presence last spring always uplifted me and brought some light into the desolate, windowless corner that is the basement. I know the news department is in good hands with you and that you will be an incredible leader. Empanadas won’t be the same without you.
Erika and Maryam, thank you for being you. Part of what makes the news department so welcoming is both of you. Keep the department camaraderie going — from matcha nights to juggling lessons — and never stop being the incredible journalists that you both are.
Matthew, words cannot express how grateful I am that you decided to apply for the Texan. Though you joined the news department halfway through my tenure, I can not imagine the newsroom without you. The impact you have left is indelible, and I would not have survived last semester with my sanity intact without you there as support (and as my Cain & Abel’s buddy).
To my senior reporters — Dani, Diego, Caroline, Catharine, Isaiah and Laura — you have taught me how to be a leader. It has been an absolute honor to work with and to watch y’all grow as journalists. Thank you for easing my stress load last semester by writing such incredible pieces.
To my general reporters, you have the momentum and the passion — keep on writing!
Peter, thank you for being there. You never doubted me or my skills, even when I questioned myself. You were always there to offer guidance and to provide insight without judgment, which means more than you could ever know. I am the leader I am today thanks to you.
For people not familiar with Peter, one of his most famous phrases is that you get out of the Texan what you put into it. Another is that the people you meet there will be some of your closest and dearest friends, even once your time in the organization ends. Both are very accurate statements in my experience.
Alyssa, from the late-night drives to the countless dinners, your unending friendship made the long hours in the Basement bearable. Though the lack of sunlight impacted our vitamin D levels, it did not touch the amount of appreciation I have for you. I’m lucky to know you.
McKenzie, I agree that the news–opinion collaboration was exactly what we needed and wasn’t aware that we were missing. You are an extremely talented journalist, and it was an honor to work with and learn from you. It’s a bigger honor to call you a friend.
Manoo, thank you for always being down to do a spontaneous photoshoot or to chat. That awkward JCPenneys-themed photoshoot we did easily memorialized the best parts of this semester — and the news department — in a way that’s impossible to forget.
Charlotte, you were one of the first people I met at the Texan. I am eternally grateful that we both decided to join the copy department that first semester (even if we didn’t stay there).
To our readers, thank you for trusting me as news editor. The Daily Texan could not be what it is without your support, and I hope our coverage provided some much-needed answers in the chaos that currently is our state, country and world.
To the Texan staff, the world is not the brightest place right now, especially for journalism, but never doubt the prevalence of what each of you does. Be proud of your work and what you have accomplished — I know I’m proud of y’all for it. Never stop learning and growing. The world needs more passionate and dedicated journalists like you.
Catch you all outside the Basement! Fearless leader officially signing out.
