I came to The D.O. as a driven little freshman who clung to paperback novels, jotting anxious notes inside to prove her intelligence to herself. I leave knowing my own abilities and voice better than I ever imagined.

My journey through Opinion began as a writer. Sometimes I would fabricate to others that writing for the section was my greatest goal coming to Syracuse University, but in all honesty, I just dreamed of being on staff.

My first step into the house would be for a photography meeting. I had no idea I’d be running the Opinion section less than a year later.

In that process, I’ve built so many incredible bonds. I had to lean on the people in the house because literally nobody else in the world understood the emotional adrenaline rush of working in a newsroom.

Grace & Layla, my twin pillars: Thank you both for such an incredible semester.

Grace, best of luck with Opinion! I promise I’ll give you the space to cook, but please abuse my phone number any time you need anything. No more watching videos on how to take a post down when you accidentally forgot the graphic. You’ve grown so much this semester and I know being head editor will be an invaluable experience for you.

Layla, I never expected to find such a close friend at The D.O. I’ll never forget when Griffin said to me, “You’ll have to go upstairs and fight for that headline,” and without hesitation, you marched right up the stairs behind me. I admire (lol) your ability to always check in on me personally while being able to lock in professionally. Thank you for always making sure I was fed and taking deep breaths. You’ve been my rock. Have an incredible time in Australia.

James: You were my first friend, and you had so much faith in my abilities and potential. You were always such a comforting presence in the house and I can’t thank you enough for all of the rides and phone calls full of venting, ranting and advice. I remember clicking during my first week as we panicked over the smell of someone’s Chipotle on our hair and our clothes. We’ve had a shared understanding ever since. There were many times we sat downstairs at 11pm genuinely delirious, laughing over random jokes and horrible music we overheard across the house. Ironically, those were the nights that kept me sane. I’m glad we’re leaving together, even if our D.O. careers are ending differently than expected. You always keep it real with me, and I’m so proud of our growth this past year.

Kendall & Rose: I can’t thank you two enough for the trust you gave me this semester. All those hours in management over single words and headlines always reassured me you valued my care for Opinion.

Kendall, you became such a model of composure and creativity for me this semester. You always treated me like an equal and genuinely trusted my calls. Your confidence in me made me confident in myself.

Rose, you always prioritized emotion and balanced it so professionally with your leadership. That’s such an important thing in journalism.

You both have inspired me so much.

Mia, Delia and Noah: I’m beyond thankful to have worked with such an amazing team of editors who never made me question Opinion’s worth.

Whether Delia and I ran matching reports and columns, Mia and I swapped columnists or Noah and I awkwardly spoke over each other to claim the next turn in budget, every collaborative effort was a huge part of the Opinion section’s growth (and my own, too).

Griffin: The most performative of them all. You have a lot of fire, and it really kept me pushing when things got tricky. Thank you for matching that energy and always helping me change my perspective on editorial struggles.

Ilana: I always thought you were so cool, and I’m so glad we became friends this semester! Thank you for all of the chats, extra print pages and helping me get Opinion a tease. You’re a creative genius and such a kind soul.

Paulina: You were such a welcoming person when I got in house as a writer, and even more inspiring when I began to work with you as an assistant. Thank you for all of your help.

Henry: You’ve grown so much this semester and I’m incredibly proud of your ability to constantly adapt and improve. I’ve admired your energy and initiative in ways I hadn’t expected, and I know you’ll have an incredible future in journalism.

Mom: Thank you for always listening, reading articles and answering my hundreds of texts. Most of all, though, thank you for telling me to quit sometimes. When the job got intense, you made sure I knew my worth without it. But you also showed me how badly I wanted to run toward the challenge instead of away.

Writers: Opinion has been your section all along. Every article, idea and incredible night of editing was a product of your effort and determination. Keep pushing. Keep writing. Keep forcing people to listen to everything you have to say: It is all so important. Opinion is discourse, and progress can’t exist without discourse. Each and every one of you is capable of amazing things. Trust that!

I couldn’t be more grateful for the experiences I’ve had this past year. I began my D.O. career early and I’m sad to already be saying such a bittersweet goodbye. It truly became such a huge part of me, and 230 Euclid will always be a home.

Published on December 12, 2025 at 1:41 pm