It's hard to imagine that four years ago I walked by the Ball State Daily News newsroom every day, tempted to walk in, but frozen by intimidation.
It wasn't until the very end of my freshman year that I finally got the courage to burst in and hit the ground running.
I quickly went from a meek, young writer to a more confident reporter, and it wasn't too long until I got my first paid position in the newsroom.
Five editor positions later, I've worked my way up to editor-in-chief. But all good things must come to an end - this is my last normal print edition as the DN's editor.
Last week, someone asked me, "What are you going to do with your life now?"
"Relax. Be normal," I replied.
"No, seriously. What are you going to do with all your time now?"
Most people on campus see the DN as a student newspaper that comes out four times a week, filled with typos and stories that they may or may not like.
But for us, it's our life.
For the past three years, the Art and Journalism Building Room 278 has been the place where I usually go as soon as I get to campus, where I spend time in between classes and the place where I end my day, usually at 2 or 3 a.m.
I store stuff here, eat here and, yes, I've slept here several times.
Spending so much time here, it's only natural that I created incredible friendships with my fellow DNers.
When I was a scared little freshman, the inside jokes and tight bond everyone else had made me feel like a giant outsider.
"I'll never fit in," I told myself.
But over time, I got to know some of the greatest people I've ever met.
I love this newsroom. I love the jokes. I love the debates about ethics. I love the hard work. I even love the fights. We go through ups and downs at the DN, and it's easier to find your way when you have people by your side.
Not all of us are best friends with everyone else, but a lot of us are. No matter what we think of each other, though, we all have respect for one another.
You may be thinking, "So what? What does this have to do with me?"
Everything.
Most of you are upperclassmen, so you've probably found your own Ball State family already, but many of you probably haven't. For those of you near graduation, you're about to embark on the next phase of your life.
But the lesson remains the same no matter what your age - don't be afraid to get out there.
Some of my best friends just graduated and got jobs out of state. They don't know anyone and talk about their loneliness. But just takes a little act to step out of your comfort zone in order to find your bliss.
It worked for me in 2009, and it will work in the future, including the near future.
For the first time in a long time, I don't have a set plan. Normally that would freak me out, but I've realized that very few things in my life go according to plan, and it's the unexpected things that make my life more interesting.
When I finally walked into AJ 278, I expected to get a little bit of experience and a few clips for my portfolio. I didn't imagine on that day that I would eventually become editor-in-chief, and I certainly didn't expect to find people I connected with on such a deep level.
And that's today's lesson, boys and girls. You never know what to expect, but at least take the initiative.
It's been a difficult decision to not return to the DN for my last semester, and knowing me, I probably won't be able to stay completely away.
When I look back at my time here, now I can't help but think, "I'll never be able to live without these people."
It's scary to start something new. But when it's even harder to leave, that's when you know the risk was worth it.
-รก
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