When former managing editor Maggie Hicks moved me into my freshman year dorm room, she
told me about The Daily Orange and said I should apply, so I did. It’s been four semesters since
then and I don’t know where the time went.

I went from being terrified to open my mouth in the newsroom as a freshman to now sharing
way too much about my personal life, which I’m not sure is something to be proud of.

The D.O. is a unique place and it’s been an outlet for me for the past 2 years now. While I have
dreaded coming into the house on days that I had too much work to do or days that were just
bad, I always left feeling better then I did coming in. And that wouldn’t be true without all of these
people.

—

Kyle Chouinard: You were the first person at The D.O. that I talked to after Maggie. I thought you were scary, but now you’re just Kyle. Thank you for all the work you do for this place.

Anish Vasudevan: Thank you for giving me the nickname “Samerstag,” even though I still don’t get how you came up with that. I learned a lot from you, especially how and when to cut quotes that do more harm than good for a story, and I’ll refrain from listing examples here.

Sammy Olander: We started together and we’re leaving together. I remember when I made you wait for me on the corner to walk into the house on the first day we were starting as dig assistants. That describes our relationship well. You have been great at every job you’ve done here and I can’t wait to see what else you do.

Kendall Luther: Sorry for accidentally giving photo credit to vending machines that one time and for every other idiotic mistake I made this semester. You are a ray of sunshine, and I know you get that a lot, but it’s true. You have taught me so much this semester and you were a kickass news editor. Good luck with everything and I am always here to bring you a gluten free muffin. Cheers.

Julia Boehning: Dude, you’re a machine. How do you know everything about Student Association? I’m so
glad I got to work with you this semester and I know you’re going to kill it next semester as news
editor. I am so proud of you. One last time, slay.

Ahna Fleming: I knew we would be friends from the day I met you, and I never think that about people. You care so much about everything you do and it shows, like when your stories are always
double the amount of words they should be. I will miss getting paninis and coffee and lavender matcha with you, but most of all I will miss you dearly.

Griffin Uribe Brown: Hey Griffin. You stepped into this role so fast and picked up dig way quicker than I ever did. It’s actually insane. It was a pleasure working with you and I hope that one day you will like
seaweed salad.

Roxanne Boychuk: I love ordering Domino’s with you but I loved even more when you ordered a pizza for yourself that could feed 10 people. You’re a newsroom staple and you helped me so much when I
was transitioning to assistant. I’m glad you’re coming back.

Dom Chiappone: I sit on the floor in honor of you. Words cannot describe how much I want to be you.

Faith Bolduc: Where do I start? You are such a light. You could always make me laugh so much, to the
point where I feared we were distracting. I love our conversations about food spots and everything else. I’ll see you soon.

Stephanie Wright: Thank you for always telling me exactly what I was doing wrong and exactly
how to fix it. I needed that. You pushed me and made me a better writer and for that I am so thankful. Good luck next semester.

Stefanie Mitchell: Oh Stefanie. I’m just so delighted that we have gotten to share this experience together, even though I apparently used to ignore you at The D.O. Thanks for convincing me to stay
another semester and to do assistant, and then hiding from me that I got it. Wish we were in Miami.

Mom and Dad: The tradition of FaceTiming one of you as I walk home from The D.O. has come to
an end. Thank you for your advice, your support and for believing in me. I love you guys. See you soon.

Published on May 6, 2024 at 12:11 pm

Contact Claire: cksamsta@syr.edu