The fact that I’m writing a farewell article is really weird. I’ve been at The Criterion for two and a half years now, and it’s been such a positive, inclusive experience with an incredible group of people that it’s hard for me to believe it’s over.

If I wrote about everything I’ve learned and gained at The Crite, this article would end up being a novel. So I’ll try to focus on just one thing.

I was flung into a social media position despite having no previous knowledge of it, so I had to learn everything on the fly. It was scary and frustrating, especially because social media is constantly changing. I would learn something, then have to relearn it when it shifted the following week.

It would’ve been so easy for me to say no to this position. It would’ve been far less stressful to stay in my comfortable, familiar role as a general reporter. But being a reporter was once unknown to me as well, and if I hadn’t taken that step, I wouldn’t have discovered the path to my degree.

Finding enough courage to step into the unknown is one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to learn to do, and The Criterion gave me so many opportunities to push myself beyond my comfort zone. I learned the new skill of managing a digital presence, wrote stories that challenged my perspectives and ultimately became a better journalist.

Through it all, I made lasting memories and relationships with my fellow staff. I couldn’t have done it without the support of the other writers, editors and advisors, who created a family environment where I felt confident in my abilities — and even when I didn’t, I could be confident that I would find help and friendship in The Criterion office. For that, I’ll be forever grateful.

I’m not going to close by saying farewell. I’m not a fan of the permanence of it.

Instead, I’ll leave a piece of advice for those at The Criterion and in the Mass Communication department (and anyone else who may find it useful): grades and classes are really important, but your experiences are just as valuable. If you’re anything like me, putting yourself out there and joining something bigger than yourself can be intimidating, but it’s worth it — even in ways you may not understand yet.

Moving forward requires that we venture into the unknown. Bon voyage!