At 18, I knew I wanted to join The Daily Orange as a freshman. I told myself I’d take the first semester of college to get the hang of things, and get more involved my second semester. Now it’s two years later, I’m 21 years old, and I can’t imagine college without thinking about the D.O.

Every time I talk about college, the D.O. is usually the center of the conversation, and it’s weird to think that it won’t be anymore. Not only did I spend a good majority of my time there, but it also turned me into a completely different person from when I first came to college. I covered topics I never thought I would, faced my fears, met amazing people and learned and wrote about interesting stories.

It’s hard to point out my biggest takeaway but one thing for certain is that I definitely know way too much about the city of Syracuse now. I also happened to make amazing friends and find a community I find comfort in.

I encountered some of the most challenging moments during my time at the D.O., but I had endless people to turn to who understood how I felt because we were all living through it together. I’ll never take for granted the incredible opportunities this paper gave me as a writer, reporter and person in general.

I have no idea where the next two years and beyond graduation will take me, but I owe everything to the paper for setting me up for life.

Stephanie Wright: I hope you know I absolutely couldn’t have gotten this far without you. You have pushed me and supported me in ways that go beyond just being my boss and mentor. You are a large part of the reason why I stayed so long, because you really believed in me and had my back every single step of the way. You are one of the most talented and driven people I’ve ever met, and I can’t wait to see what you achieve because there’s no doubt that you’ll go far. I’ll miss our late night Taco Bell orders, coffee dates and gossip sessions in the management room. Thank you for being a shoulder to lean on, a supporter of my career and a true friend for life.

Cooper Andrews: You are the most understanding and kind-hearted person I’ve met at the D.O. Whenever I worried I was doing something wrong or wasn’t writing well enough, you always reassured me of my contribution to the paper. I always knew you would be a great managing editor, but you really exceeded my expectations. You are constantly working on the quality of the paper and still maintain your happy attitude through it all. Thank you for always standing up for me and most importantly for making me laugh all the time.

Cassie Roshu: You are someone that always radiates good energy when you are at the house. You are someone who has been at the D.O. since I can remember, and being around you always brought me back to old times at the D.O. I also loved being your secret santa because you’re just a really cool person with really good taste. You definitely stand out at the paper because of your pure talent, and I can’t wait to see where you go in life.

Julia Boehning: When we first met, I was passing you the Student Association beat torch (which I’m sure we can both agree was a canon event for us at the D.O.). Little did I know all that you would come to accomplish in the next couple semesters. I remember barely having to train you for the beat because you were able to pick it up so swiftly. After that, you quickly moved up in the ranks to news editor. This was not an easy job, but you took it head on and ran that section like a boss. Thank you for making my last semester in-house absolutely unforgettable. You will go so far in life and I hope you know it.

Kendall Luther: Kendall, I missed your presence so much this semester, but I know you’re having a blast in NYC. You were the first face I met at the D.O. when you helped me cover my first SA meeting. I was scared and quiet, but you were so kind and made me feel welcome. You are probably one of the most skilled writers and reporters I have ever come across. I am so proud of all you accomplished and feel so lucky that I got to work with you for three semesters. Thank you for helping me grow in house, I hope I can get lucky enough to work with you again someday.

Fall ‘23 News Staff: I’ve truly never felt more at home at college than when I worked with this news team. I met some of my closest friends and spent a majority of my time at the house. It was a lot of work, but I had the best people to do it with and we had so many laughs. I love you all and hope you’re doing amazing.

Spring ‘24 News Staff: You were all such talented writers and I was in awe of the work you did in the span of only a few months. You guys were so good you made me want to stay for another semester. I hope you’re all doing well and am so excited to see what you accomplish in life.

Duncan Green: I couldn’t trust you more with the news section. You’re going to kill it. I’m so glad you joined the news team this semester, you were such an important part of it. I can’t wait to see what you do.

Delia Rangel: For all the long, tedious nights that we worked, I felt like time always passed by quicker when you were around. Whether it was cracking jokes, playing music or watching DWTS, you always kept me occupied. I’m so happy you decided to stay in house. You’re a wonderful person and a talented, hardworking writer.

Kate Jackson: I was so happy when I heard you were joining the D.O. after I first met you in JNL 211. I’ll miss you and the laughs we had in class and at the D.O. Also your writing skills are insane. I’m so glad we got closer this semester. Have fun in Barcelona!

Henry Daley: The second you came into the news room, the whole vibe changed. You brought everyone out of their comfort zone with your humor and personality. You’re always willing to take on any task, which is something not everyone can say, so keep doing that. Thanks for always making things fun, I’m excited to see what you do next semester.

Madeline Goodheart: Madeline, I just love your humor. I loved having you around the news room and laughing at everything you said. Thanks for lifting my spirits on even the slowest nights, I’ll miss you.

Zaara Malik: Your hard work and persistence were so apparent ever since you stepped into the news room. I’m so glad you joined the team, you brought so much creativity and laughter, and I’ll miss you.

Fall ‘23 – Spring ‘24 Management: Thank you for building the foundation of my career. Without you and your help, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Thank you for being my role models and helping me grow, I can’t wait to see you go far in life.

Mom, Dad, & Melanie: I owe everything to you. You are my biggest fans who stayed by my side at my highest and lowest moments. You believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. Thank you for being so understanding, caring, supportive and helpful. I wouldn’t have been able to do any of it without you. I love you more than anything and can’t wait to see you soon.

Published on December 13, 2024 at 1:43 am

Contact Roxanne: rmboychu@syr.edu