I must admit that I am sighing in relief knowing that this is our last issue for the semester. After all, this semester has been a whirlwind for me, being the editor-in-chief for both the newspaper and the magazine on top of my 15-unit workload and job.

With that said, however, I must also admit that I’ve learned more in this semester than I have in the three previous semesters at EC combined.

I may have been running two publications this semester, but I’ve realized that I am no Wonder Woman.

I owe the success of this semester to my editors, writers, photographers and adviser.

Without them, there would no Union.

It is amazing what a team of dedicated students could do; not only were we able to publish nine issues of the newspaper, but we won awards at state competitions and proved to ourselves and to the campus community that we are capable, talented journalists.

Not only have we become better journalists, we have built this bond that I will remember fondly for years to come.

As hectic as those Wednesday production nights were, I am going to miss them.

Sure, we were often stressed out or wanting to bang our heads on the computer screen when the system crashed (or was it just me?), but we had many moments where someone said something silly and found ourselves rolling on the floor laughing until our stomachs hurt.

The Union has dominated my life for three semesters, but I can’t imagine them to be any different.

Although I always joked that I practically lived in the newsroom when the only thing missing was a bed, I loved having a place where I belonged on campus, a place where I could feel at home.

In addition, as much as I whined and complained that I had no social life, I made more friends in the newsroom than I would have just attending classes.

I am truly blessed to have met these people because they inspired me to do better.

I still remember the first editorial board meeting I attended as the opinion editor.

I didn’t know anyone in the room and felt more nervous than I did on the first day of high school.

I shyly introduced myself and told the group that I was nervous.

Then they, the editors and advisers, all smiled and told me not to worry, and I will be fine.

I doubted them. But they were right.

Since that first editorial board meeting I’ve attended many more, but that one, by far, is the most memorable.

Recently, my mother asked me what I’m going to be doing on weekdays after the paper was done.

I’m still figuring out the answer to that question.

Yes, I am relieved that this is over, but I know I’m going to miss it.

The experiences and the people I met throughthe Union are what made my two years at EC exciting, eye opening and unforgettable.

So I congratulate my editors, writers and photographers-thanks to you, we did it!

I hope I will have as much fun as I had in the newsroom when I transfer, but somehow, I have this feeling that it won’t be the same.