One of the things I deal with is grappling with the reality of who I am and the idea of who I want to be. I have often had a desire to be something more: a great sports player, a successful creative author, a classroom genius or a hometown hero. However, when I look at my life experiences these past few years, and even as a whole, I am surprisingly happy with who I am.

  Working with the Muleskinner, I had some great opportunities to learn and develop my skills, to meet amazing people and work with an award-winning team. 

  Life looked a lot different when I first got involved with the Muleskinner. The very first story I wrote with this newspaper was “Making Your New Year’s Resolutions a Reality.” I am not very proud of that story, it is just as cheesy as you might expect from the name and reads like an essay rather than an article, but I think it was a fitting beginning to a nearly four-year story of growth and change.

  In an internship with The Sedalia Democrat, I interviewed state and local leaders, provided coverage for protests over the overturn of Roe v. Wade and even got to write a crime story about a multi-county police chase.

  At college, I got to grow in and learn more about my faith as a Christian with The Navigators collegiate ministry, make long-lasting friendships and train myself for a future beyond graduation.

  All that said, a worldwide pandemic overshadowed the majority of all these experiences. COVID-19 was a major factor in my life at the University of Central Missouri. And yet, I feel that I have changed for the better, that I have grown as a person and as a professional. My thanks to the Muleskinner teams of present and past, The Navigators, The Sedalia Democrat, The Beat and all the others who have been part of my journey. I hope for the best for all these places. I know and trust in the wonderful people who will continue to work; especially at the Muleskinner to keep publishing stories for students by students.

  After living in Nickerson Hall for two years, I grew very familiar with the saying written on the side of the Friendship Tower in Selmo Park: “Who is wise? He who learns from every man.” I believe that desire to learn, that curiosity and a willingness to seek after life’s questions have helped make me who I am today. 

  God bless you all, good luck to my fellow graduates and best wishes to everyone at the Muleskinner!