Well folks, 3 years, 100+ articles, and almost as many sleepless nights later, my time at The Captain’s Log comes to an end as graduation rears its head. I have had a while to think about it and how I feel, but the number one thing I feel is gratitude. I have wanted to join the paper ever since COVID restrictions were lifted and that was once again possible. I got everything I wanted and more.
I’m grateful for the many opportunities I have been given here. From interviewing Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones and former CNU Interim President Adelia Thompson, to all the great restaurants I got to review. I’m glad I had the opportunity to share my opinions and write about the things that interest me. I’m grateful I got to do some fun articles, as well as darker articles that dealt with less pleasant things on campus and outside. I’m glad I got to do every section at least several times and I hope that the things I wrote were entertaining, informative, or sometimes both.
I want to thank so many people for the opportunities I have gotten here. I want to thank all the editors who supported me, despite the fact that I would bombard them with ideas and random articles late at night. I want to specifically shout out the two Editor-in-Chiefs I worked under during my time here, Evelyn Davidson and Grey Griles who had the utmost faith in (or tolerance for) me. My fellow staff writers, who I love having as colleagues and are so hard working. I want to thank my partner, Eren, who has watched me crank out the majority of these articles furiously at my laptop. My family, who keep and read numerous copies of the paper. My friends on and off campus, who all get a prompt “Paper Day!” message every Thursday morning and who ask me for sudoku answers.
Most of all, I would like to thank everyone who picks up a copy of this newspaper or clicked a link online. I have been told numerous times that the news doesn’t matter or that it’s “toxic” and that my hard work is futile, but that all becomes static when I see people pick up copies or read the articles every week. This paper should be the voice of the students and I’m glad that we get to be here for the students for many more years to come.
So to everyone who’s reading this. Good bye, sleep well, be safe, keep letting your voice be heard, drink water and don’t die. It’s been the time of my life to write for you and I hope you’ll read something from me again one day.
