When I look back on my time at TCU, I’m grateful for the many great memories I know I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. I’ve built lifelong friendships with both students and faculty and have never felt more confident that TCU was the place I was meant to be.

One of the experiences I’ll cherish most was spending the fall semester of my senior year in Washington, D.C. With the help of the political science department and the Schieffer School of Journalism, I interned for Bob Schieffer at CBS News’ “Face the Nation.” While I was excited about moving to D.C., I never could have imagined the impact the whole experience would have on my life.

Schieffer, along with his brilliant staff, welcomed me with open arms and quickly taught me the ins and outs of the Beltway. I met senators and congressmen, political experts and renowned authors. I spent time on Capitol Hill and was able to see the more human side of many of our country’s most influential politicians. The research I did for the show made me a more informed citizen and broadened my understanding of our country’s political system.

Though working for CBS News was a highlight of my time in D.C., the District itself gave me a feeling I’ve rarely felt anywhere else. Washington is full of history, beauty and style. There are an endless number of places to see, and there’s always something fun to do. So many people have told me that D.C. “gets in your blood.” I fully understand that now and am thankful it’s in mine.

Another surprising but exciting part of D.C. was that it’s home to a lot of Horned Frogs. TCU alumni are well represented in almost every career field, but the best representation of the alumni there can be found at Penn Quarter Sports Tavern during a TCU football game. It proved to me that even thousands of miles away from campus, Horned Frogs continue to bleed purple for the rest of their lives.

I could never fully express how indebted I feel to so many TCU faculty members. They’ve helped me grow academically and professionally, but they’ve also helped me grow as a person. To them, I was more than just a student. And when I made the decision to come to TCU, that’s what I hoped to find.

When I walk across the stage at graduation, I’ll be taking lessons from so many people with me. So I thank loyal friends and devoted professors for the roles they’ve played in my life, and most importantly, for making it hard to say goodbye to Cowtown but thrilled to see what my future holds.

TCU News Now Director Courtney Jay is a senior broadcast journalism major from Houston.