Looking around this tiny orange room as I sit here in the corner on my last production night, two weeks before graduation, I can’t help but tear up. Suzy is making a creepy face at me, Anthony is eating my leftover chicken fingers, Lief is watching a basketball game, Hannah is bopping to “Apple Bottom Jeans,” which is playing loudly in the background, Jen is wearing a Disney T-shirt, Cat is imitating a former editor in a squeaky voice, Abbott is staring at her screen with intense concentration and John is ignoring everyone with headphones in — pretty typical.
When I first joined The Oracle, I didn’t understand how a college newspaper staff could become so close. The inside jokes and the way everyone treated each other like some kind of bizarrely close, slightly volatile family confused me. A year of sleepless nights, endless hours spent in the office, deliriously-told 3 a.m. stories and 37 articles later, it makes sense. I get it now.
I could spend this reflection talking about my time at New Paltz and The Oracle and how much it all means to me but what matters most is the people I met along the way, the people who really taught me everything I know about journalism. So this one’s for all of you, some of the greatest people I will ever meet.
Hannah, I remember meeting you and getting so excited you were a rookie like me in the Fall. From this paper, to interning together, to now interning together again this summer (it’s never too late), I know this isn’t goodbye, it’s only the beginning our beautiful bro(ro?)mance. You inspire me with your over- achieving ways and I really can’t tell you how glad I am that I have you as a friend.
Andrew, I know you’re going to be an amazing Editor-in-Lief and I’m sad I won’t be on staff to witness it, but you know I’ll come back to shower you with unreturned affection.
Max, thanks for helping me try to corner sources in the basement of JFT. You brighten our nights with your shining face.
Robin, your photos are fabulous and I can’t wait to see your byline in Sports Illustrated one day.
Abbott, when we first met on the copy desk I was pretty sure you hated me. I never thought you would come to be one of my best friends. You get me like no one else and I’m honestly so sad I’m leaving you a year early and won’t get to be on the paper when you one day take the lead and make it famous. You are beyond incredible and I don’t know what I would have done some of these Oracle nights slash every other night without you.
Jen, you are one of the hardest working people I’ve ever met, yet you manage to smile the entire time and always keep upbeat.
Kristen and Melissa — I’m so proud of you two for joining The Oracle as first-years and I know that both of you will keep the paper as amazing as it is now.
Zam, I’m so glad you came back from Spain in time for us to be on staff together. I know you’re gonna make A&E awesome next year, and I can’t wait to come back and see it.
Anthony, you’re an awesome person in a million ways and I love your diehard passion for journalism.
John, you make me laugh even though I know you aren’t trying. I’ll try to remember that you are neither a cheetah nor a girl.
Suzy, I remember one night in particular when none of us were having it, you just turned to me with a huge goofy smile on your face and started talking in your thickest Jewish mother accent telling me it’s all good. And that’s why I love you.
Katie, you are a straight-up wonderful person and you never cease to entertain/enlighten me. You rock, don’t ever change.
Cat, you are an incredible person, and an even better Editor-in-Chief. You work so hard on this paper and I think you are a phenomenal person who will go on to do great things– — even greater than your lifelong dream of working for J. Crew.
I was looking for some corny, inspirational quote to put at the end of this, but instead I’m gonna put something that was just said in the newsroom at 2:14 a.m.
Lief: You probably shouldn’t wait until the last minute.
Me: To do what?
Lief: Life.