As I wrote my final gamer for the 2024 Texas soccer season, all I could think to myself was that I was finally done with The Daily Texan. I had completed my then-goal of covering my favorite sport and its historic Southeastern Conference Tournament-winning campaign.
I started thinking of everything I would do without the Texan until my then-small group leader, Katie, urged me to apply for permanent staff. Already rejected twice, I decided to give myself one last chance.
Now I’m here. After three semesters on p-staff, I am eternally grateful to have given this special place a second chance. I’ve made the best of friends while covering an SEC-winning baseball season, Austin FC’s historic U.S. Open Cup run and a Sweet 16 men’s basketball team.
To Christina and Evan, thank you for even giving me a chance. I never thought of journalism in high school and had no clue what I was doing when I applied. I grew so much as a general reporter and I wouldn’t be where I am without y’all’s leadership.
Isa, Lauren and Meaghan, thank you for believing in me as a senior reporter. Thank you Isa for being the first to believe in me for this role, Lauren for the trust in me to take on Austin FC and Meaghan for never doubting me when it came to balancing my busy schedule this past semester. The trust all three of you had in me never went unseen.
Nick, thank you for being my right-hand man for the last year and a half. We’ve been through it all, except travel, and I couldn’t imagine being beat partners with anyone else.
Sophia, thank you for always telling me that I was your favorite. You’re not my favorite, but I will miss the banter between us.
Zach, Matthew, Alyssa, Anna, Lindsey and Charlie, thank you for making up the rest of “sports random.” Our basement culture was unmatched and will always be a core college memory. I’m grateful that a bunch of random sports writers, a copy desk editor and photographer came together to create a friend group like nothing else.
Payton and Tyler, I wish I could have spent more time with y’all on p-staff. Y’all are the most talented and hard-working sophomores I’ve seen in student journalism, and I have no doubt how successful y’all can be in this industry.
Leo, you’ve been in all of my small groups and you’ve excelled every time. I’m proud of the growth you’ve shown and I thank you for the trust you’ve shown me over the past three semesters.
To my small group leaders: Manny, thank you for the advice before my interview during open house. Emma, thank you for encouraging me to take on the baseball beat; covering that team was the challenge I needed. Katie, thank you for pushing me to apply for p-staff. I would not be writing this 30 without your words of encouragement.
Thank you Peter for always supporting us and explaining your critiques whenever I asked. I will not miss your “What’s up? The ceiling” joke.
Finally, thank you to my family for supporting me — whether it was by reading the stories or loving the gameday outfit pictures I would always send in our family group chat.
If you’re still here, I hope I’ve inspired you to take a second chance on whatever it is, but especially on the Texan — the basement isn’t the best, but it’s the people that make the place at the end of the day.
Thank you to The Daily Texan for letting me live out one of my college dreams.
