I hate saying goodbye.
It isn’t easy to come to terms with the fact that an impactful part of my life will change drastically in less than two weeks. That’s what will happen when I graduate and my time working at the Muleskinner ends. It’s sad. I’d go as far as to say it is devastating to leave the place that put me on the path to this satisfying conclusion.
Two years ago, I didn’t know if I’d ever graduate as a journalist. I didn’t think I had what it took to succeed in school let alone in the industry. I had no plan or clear route to graduation until I finally visited my adviser, Matt Bird-Meyer. I didn’t reach out to Matt like I should have long before, instead he emailed me and asked to discuss my plan to graduate. From there, I saw a light at the end of the tunnel. I wasn’t too far away, but I knew a lot of the routine I had created in my first two and a half years at UCM would need to adjust.
Shortly after meeting with Matt, I was contacted by the Muleskinner to write a story about the Jennies soccer team. I was scared out of my mind. I had avoided opportunities like this in fear of failing many times before, but I needed to do it in order to begin this new commitment to becoming a journalist.
I got my first story published in November 2017. It was rough, but it was the confidence I needed to apply for and accept a position covering sports at the Muleskinner for the following semester. I served as the sports editor in fall 2018 and the managing editor this semester and I’ve learned more than I could imagine in the process.

These semesters working for the Muleskinner have flown by and it’s moments like now while I write this that I remember all of the good times and great people I’m parting ways with. With less than two weeks of road left here, I wish I had more time. To do more stories, meet more people and see the Muleskinner become what we all want it to be.
I’m thankful for my family, friends and anyone else who supported me on this wild and blessed journey.
More than anything, I’m thankful for all of the incredible people I’ve spent nearly every day working with for the last year and a half.  Everyone I’ve worked with at the Muleskinner has positively affected my life. My adviser taught me so many valuable qualities that will stick with me my entire life. The editors that read my work challenged me in ways that raised my expectations of myself throughout my career. The journalists I got to work with as the managing editor this year worked their asses off every day to make what we were doing mean something.
I’ll always remember the great work we did together.