Three and a half years ago, on the second Monday night of my freshman year, I wandered into a meeting with two or three of my floormates. Students were scattered around the tables in the Driscoll Underground, directing their attention to a stained whiteboard at the front of the room. This was my first Clarion meeting. At the time, I had no idea how familiar this scene would become.
I didn’t come to the Clarion as a journalist; I was an English major, intent on becoming a writer, and I had stumbled into this meeting like I had stumbled into about 50 others during my first few weeks at DU. But after picking up my first article for the entertainment section, I knew that this was an organization I wanted to be a part of. Now, after three and a half years spent in various positions on the Clarion staff, from staff writer to entertainment editor to executive editor, I have become the journalist I never thought I’d be. And the Clarion is entirely to thank for that.
My time at the Clarion has been empowering, frustrating, exhilarating and, most of all, inspiring. The work of the Clarion staff is largely unseen by the rest of the student body. They may see the articles posted on social media, or a stack of papers sitting just inside the doors of Sturm Hall, but very few of them know about the countless hours of work our writers, editors, photographers and illustrators put in to make sure a quality paper is produced each week.
These are the people who have made my experience with the Clarion so incredibly important, and I could never leave without thanking them.
To Connor, my colleague and my friend, I can’t think of anyone better to have spent this last year working with. Looking at what we have accomplished makes me sure that you’ll go on to accomplish so much more. You’re the coolest scone-making, finger-wagging, camo-van-wearing Editor-in-Chief I know.
To Jill and Kellsie, our fearless new leaders, I am so proud of you. I can’t wait to see where you take this publication, and I have no doubt that you will thrive. My only advice to you about this next year of your lives: enjoy it. It may be draining or discouraging at times, but when it’s over, you will feel as if it went too quickly.
To Andrew, my favorite professor and mentor, your help and guidance during these past three years has been incomparable. Thank you.
To the entire Clarion staff, I can’t thank you enough for supporting and believing in us for the past year. This staff has become my family, and I will miss the weekly burrito runs, impromptu song-and-dance numbers and quotes worthy of preserving on the whiteboard. You are all ‘Clarion Cool Kids.’
I don’t really know what my last quarter at DU will be like without the long production nights every Monday and Saturday mornings spent with Google Docs and a cup of tea. But what I do know is that I will always be immensely proud of this publication and my time here.
The only thing left to say is, again, thank you. And, of course, Keep Calm and Clarion.
