Although it’s been about two years, it feels as if it were just yesterday.

I remember nervously walking into her office for a conference. I sat down and awkwardly smiled as she told me how great I was doing in her Journalism 1, News Writing and Reporting class.

“You’re a journalism major, right?” Lori Medigovich, Union co-adviser, said.

“Yes,” I replied, trying to avoid any or all eye contact with her.

“You need to join the paper,” she said.

“OK!” I said without hesitation.

It’s hard to believe that I gave her one or two word answers, as I seem to talk her ear off now.

She made me nervous. She was a real journalist, someone who worked in the field that I planned to be a part of and although she didn’t know it then, I looked up to her. As I do now.

Sitting across from her that day was Kate McLaughlin, co-adviser. I remember seeing this really tall lady walking in and out of the office. I didn’t know her until I joined the paper. There I quickly learned from her, soaked up every piece of journalistic knowledge and thought how lucky I was to have another journalist to look up to and to cheer me up when I was sad or when I’d leave the house wearing two different shoes.

I’ve had many teachers in the 20-something years of loving journalism, but I’ve never had anyone come close to these two extraordinary women. They’ve taught me, guided me and supported me. They’ve gone above and beyond, have never given up on me and believed in me more than I believed in myself.

And truth be told, I want to be like them. They inspire me to reach my full potential and I could never thank them enough. But thank you!

If someone would have told me I would have been editor-in-chief of this award-winning publication three times in a row, I wouldn’t have believed it. I reached goals this semester. I placed in all my competitions (even won first in broadcast) at the Journalism Association of Community Colleges competition. The issues I was EIC for were nominated for an Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Award.

It’s been an amazing journey. I’d like to thank my small but mighty staff. The term ‘quality over quantity’ applies to them. They each have something special about them and I want to thank them all for their hard work and dedication.

It’s been an honor being EIC of this wonderful publication. I love the Union and everything I’ve learned here. It is certainly an experience I will never forget.