I had two stories published with The Daily Orange when I threw my hat in the ring as an assistant digital editor in August of 2024. Sitting in the house for my first night of production, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I’m glad I circled back to The D.O. after being scared of it my freshman year.

If I could do this job all over again, I 100% would, and I’d do even more than what Culture accomplished this fall. I wouldn’t trade the late nights, page reads and floods of D.O.-related texts and Slack messages on my phone this past year for anything else.

Everyone on staff made this such a positive experience for me, and I’m indebted to all of you. Thanks for my best year at Syracuse University, and please don’t become strangers. I’m here for anyone, whether it’s life, internship/job advice or D.O. rants. You’re all incredible and such hard workers as well as amazing friends and fun people to be around. Without further ado, here’s to you all:

Rosina: Oh how I missed your laugh when you were in France, and I was so happy to hear it again in house this fall. You’ve been an actual angel and inspiration to me over the past year. I loved being on your staff last fall and it made me want to stay at The D.O. as long as I could. You have the best pitches and gave me so many cool ideas to work with this semester. I couldn’t be more grateful for your support Rosina, it means the world. You’re an amazing ME and are leaving such a wonderful impact on this paper already.

Kendall: I can’t believe I didn’t meet you until like March of this year. You’re perfect for this job, have amazing news judgment and such a collaborative spirit. I’ve watched your encouragement and positive attitude touch every part of this house, and you’re only going to keep killing it as EIC! As I said with Rosina, you’re leaving an amazing impression on this paper and truly making it better during what’s been a crazy year.

James: Dude we literally started working the same semester and are now leaving the same semester — how crazy! It’s been so cool to see you go from an assistant to editorial editor to DME, and you’ve moved with so much kindness in your heart. Your love for local, hard-hitting journalism is infectious. You’ve done an incredible job and have a lot to look back at and be proud of. Now let’s celebrate!

Griffin: Like I said with Kendall, I can’t believe I didn’t meet you until this year (literally four months ago). I don’t know how you move around this house with so much constant energy, passion and happiness, but I know it’s because you love what you do, and you’re damn good at it! You were clearly the best person to be The D.O.’s first SME, and I can’t wait to see what you do as the next DME! Keep taking dig and social to new heights.

Leo + vis: You guys are the culture section’s goats and I love coming up to the vis room every night for selects and to hang out during the wee hours of print night. Leo, you were such a great photo editor and got the best people on culture assignments while killing it yourself. Thank you guys for taking the best visuals and being such fun people to be around!

Ilana + design: Ugh Ilana please stop crying it’s just making me cry harder! You’re a steadfast leader and an amazing friend. I could always count on your sick design visions and am so excited to keep watching you as presentation director. Lily + Caroline + Ade, I’ve loved working with you three. You guys are so talented and have learned so quickly! Lily, thank you for the rides home on print night and Ade, can I borrow some stress squishies to help me with my post-grad job search?

Hannah + illo squad: Such a kind and talented team of people who work so hard. Thanks for making culture illos amazing, you guys add so much to this paper and are a silent backbone of it!

Delia + news: Delia, I’m so glad we were head editors together! News had every possible curveball thrown at them this semester and you led the section with such grace and talent. Your staff loves you and I’ve loved watching all you guys’ work this semester. Also obsessed with the fact that you’re all so on the nose with pop culture moments while being news baddies. You guys are killers.

Sports dudes: You guys never failed to come down to the culture section and distract most of my staff, but you always made me laugh when doing it. I admire the crazy sports grind and love your features. Henry, thanks for being an honorary culture staffer this semester (and Harris and Mauricio and Quinn).

Opinion girlies: Wow did opinion have some amazing pieces this semester and Savannah I still can’t believe you’re a sophomore (I legit thought you were going to graduate with us seniors). You’re so mature and intelligent, and have handled everything opinion beautifully this fall. Layla you always make me laugh with your online references, and Grace, you’re going to do amazing as the next editorial editor!

Davis: But actually do you need anything? I hope you’re ducking for real this time because you really deserve it. You care about this place so wholeheartedly and have led us through every tech issue and video dom. THANK YOU FOR THE VIDEO DOMS!! I know you have a special spot in your heart for the culture section.

Cole: When I met you on FaceTime off Cassie’s phone last fall, I was like, “Who is this kid and how will I be working with him?” You were an awesome triple D and are now one of my favorite friends here at SU. Thank you for all the graphics, memories and laughs until I almost pee my pants.

Lucía: Sweet Lucía, you put your heart and soul into The D.O. as presentation director last year. I always loved when you came down to the culture section to jam on designs and I still think about the awesome Jabberwocky layout. I hope to see you more in the spring!

Sophia: You and the person below are seriously The D.O.’s MVPs. I’m always so impressed by your work and am convinced you never sleep. You always know exactly what to do with each and every design, and I’ve loved watching you become such a strong leader at The D.O. Hopefully we don’t have too many more late nights in Bird together.

Joe: JOEEEE you are my forever goat. We’ve done so many cool stories together I can’t even keep track of them all! You brighten my night every time you walk into the house and I’m really going to miss you next semester. I can’t wait to see where your future takes you!

Charlotte: C Price your talents are endless. You killed dig work, have been an incredible assistant and are going to be a stellar second SME. I’m so proud of you and your growth and am happy I’ve been able to watch you since your start at The D.O. I’ll miss your jokes and voice memos with pitch ideas. You’re literally going to become Andie Anderson!

Eliana: My other right hand man along with C Price, I could always rely on you for extra help when needed. You never falter and that will benefit you as culture editor. You care so much about what you do and treat every writer with kindness and patience — that will take you places. Please let me know if you ever need anything at all as culture editor, I’m so proud of you!

Cam: I could always count on you and you literally never complained about a thing (even when you did copy until 1:30 a.m.). You’ve got such a strong attitude and now have some crazy cool bylines under your belt from this semester. I hope you love Los Angeles in the spring and eventually make your way back to The D.O….;) Enjoy your break!

Claire: Claireeee labubu labubu labubu forever. You immediately stood out to me as a strong writer when you contributed in the spring. I KNEW I had to have you and Cam on my staff. I’m so grateful for your fun spirit in house, clean copy and awesome stories. I’m obsessed with the beat you carved out for yourself this fall, keep up the good work with dig in the spring!

Lily: THE ZUCK. You literally eat, sleep and breath journalism and The D.O., and that’s exactly what this paper needs. I’m so proud of you Lily and am excited to see you keep growing as an assistant editor. You’ve had banger pitches and stories this semester — keep taking on more. You’re going places girl.

Tara: You’re CRACKED at dig and so creative and talented. I’ve loved watching you grow at The D.O. and am so excited you get to be an assistant now. You kill your stories and work so hard and efficiently — I can’t wait to see more. You need to do a Syracuse jazz piece with Frank Malfitano next semester!

Ben: I’m forever grateful you saw my hard work and pushed me to be culture editor. You gave me plenty of advice and prepared me so well for this job. I loved doing the deli story with you (an award-winning piece now!) and was so excited when you gave me Jabberwocky. I hope you loved New York City and can’t wait to see what you do next!

Cassie: You were one of my first faces at The D.O., and you gave me so much guidance and grace last fall. I loved our DME + dig assistant relationship and am glad we now have a friendship. I miss doing balloon lady with you and your silly ice breakers. You’re the best.

Stephanie + Cooper: I was scared of you guys during my interview, but slowly over the course of last year, I realized how warm, welcoming and caring you both are. You guys ran a tight ship and did incredible as EIC + ME and now I can call you guys my friends! Thank you for taking a chance on me.

Family + friends: Sorry for being literally MIA (lol get it) this fall, but I promise I’m all yours for the holidays and next semester. Hopefully some good old quality time in Florida, Michigan and Syracuse will make up for all the times I said “Sorry I can’t talk right now, I’m at The D.O.”

Please excuse me while I sob and have an existential crisis about the fact that I’m basically graduated, no longer a student and don’t work here anymore. Goodbyes are hard. I love you all <3

Published on December 12, 2025 at 1:49 pm
Contact Mia: mjones58@syr.edu