It is strange for me to say that after two years serving TCU student media, I will be graduating in May and leaving the newsroom, my home away from home.

Being a journalism major these past two years has been a lot of work, but a true eye-opener to what life would be like outside of college. My first semester as an editor, within the first month of work, I was introduced to the fast-paced breaking news world with the February 2012 drug arrests. Starting off my leadership with that event may have been stressful, but experience like that is once-in-a-lifetime, and in the end I can say I am lucky to have been a part of developing that story.

I have seen this production change drastically with the move to digital first in the fall of 2012. Being a part of that change, among others in my generation around the world who are learning about journalism during this technologically-charged time, has also been a vital learning experience and crucial in my development as a journalist.

I have been lucky enough to serve as the photo editor those two years, and I have grown so attached to my work and my photo staff that I am truly sad to leave them behind. My co-workers have constantly heard me refer to our photo storage system as “my baby,” and I can honestly say that without this job opportunity, I would not have found my passion in photojournalism.

To the TCU 360 staff, past and present, I am so blessed to have met each and every one of you. Whether it was powering through our 15-hour work days, making daily trips to a certain restaurant on campus, livening up our staff meetings with '90s hip-hop or planning our own musical ensemble that will probably never happen, I have had a blast. I can’t imagine going to work anywhere out of the “Mothership,” our affectionate name for Moudy South.

Working for TCU student media has helped me to grow in ways I wouldn’t have otherwise. I have learned to be more efficient, precise, curious, determined and consistently aware of everything around me at all times. I’ve learned the importance of deadlines, planning ahead, staying informed and working as a team. I’ve learned that the best thing for me to do is my best in anything I produce, and that you can’t please everyone. I’ve learned to stand by my work and to be as fair and balanced as possible, and how to recognize those moments where I was not.

So, despite those late nights, those extra-long shifts and the stacked deadlines, I find that I will miss those more as graduation draws nearer.

To the student body, remember that TCU student media is representative of your daily life. We are here to keep you informed on everything relevant to your life, and are always open to communication regarding that.

To my professors, thank you for teaching me everything I know, and for staying on me about being professional, efficient, timely and thorough. You are the reason I came to TCU, and the reason I have grown to be the journalist I am today.

To everyone sticking around Moudy South as I leave, fight the good fight and always do your best. If I can make it, so can you!