I first joined the Crossed Sabres my freshman year on a whim. Looking for an elective to fill an empty space in my schedule, I remembered how I used to love writing stories when I was younger and thought that I could be good at the newspaper. I never expected to fall into it as much as I did. From the first day, I realized that I had made the right choice. Journalism was never just another class to me, another source of work or stress. It was a release, where I had a job to do that I cared about and people around me who were working towards the same goal of telling a story that mattered to our community.

Now, four years later, so much has changed. At the end of my freshman year, I was promoted to Lifestyles Editor. Then came the Managing Editor job, followed by Editor-in-Chief. Between each role were the stories. From stories in my school community, like coverage of the technology problems facing students and student activism, to larger features on the local fire department or someone I knew who had been involved in the Civil Rights Movement, I wrote about a variety of topics in my time on staff. I’ve learned and grown so much since I first walked into our Publications Lab, and I’ve put it all here to share.