That’s it, folks. I’m done with being the funny one around here. My wrists hurt from drawing and my brain pangs from always being the most creative person in the room. After eight semesters, it’s time to pass on the drawing tablet and enjoy a nice, long vacation in my own slice of Claradise.

Although my staffers will tell you the Era of Clara was the best in the history of the department, I could not have gotten here without the legacy of greatness set forth before me. To Emma, Alexa, Breyona and all the former leaders of this department, thank you for the standard and example you set for me. The Comics department, like any facet of the newsworld, holds its own footing in the course of time, preserving the moments, big and small, of students around campus. Each brush stroke, ink line and pixel colors the way we view the world. I am honored to have had the opportunity to contribute to this legacy.

For those of you who might think comic-making is easy, know that it only looks that way because of the skill, practice, attention and care poured into it by our staffers. I have been making comics since I was able to hold a pencil. Naturally, the day I got my UT acceptance letter, I knew I wanted to contribute to the colorful back pages of the student paper. I never imagined how far working at the Texan would take me.

Whether it’s a joke about a freshman geology class, a scene in a dorm kitchen that has since been demolished (rest in peace, Whitis Court), or a riff on campus jobs, each strip preserves a moment in time and transports me back to the people and places that shaped my college experience.

And no great comic is without its cast of characters. I couldn’t have done it without my fellow artists and associates. To Colin, thank you for your constant help and support, for your deep knowledge of comic history and for always bringing snacks. I couldn’t have done it without you.

To Annalise, Angela, Elizabeth and Jaiden, thank you for being excellent leaders and exceptionally funny people. Here’s to rolling with the punches.

To my staffers, thank you for bringing the magic to our Comics Kingdom. It’s been an honor being your Wizard and vague triangularly-shaped leader. I’ll miss you all dearly.

To Newt, Matt, Joseph, Kylee, Aaron, Alyssa, and like, literally everyone else in the Basement, y’all rock. Thank you for letting me pester you all the time.

To Peter, thank you for the one time you critiqued my comic by saying “made me lol’ed”. That’s been fueling me since sophomore year.

To my Quality Control Team — you know who you are — thank you for four years of joke assistance, joke hindrance and caption ideas. Thank you for letting me be a ball of stress. After all, if it doesn’t fool y’all, it won’t fool anyone.

To my large collection of parents, mentors and grandparents; future, past and present, thank you for always believing in me. You are the hands that raised Georgetown High School’s Funniest Girl (and UT Austin’s half-decent runner-up).

What started as a light way to pass the time became one of the most profound contributions to my college experience. I’ll always be thankful and proud of my time at the Daily Texan, and I can’t wait to see where y’all take it next.

Despite it being the name of the game, I was never good at keeping my words short and sweet. In comic making, timing is everything, and although it’s bittersweet to say goodbye, just know – the story continues in next week’s issue. I’ll see you there.