How do you even start something like this?

Nothing could possibly sum up the last near four years properly whether this ends up being 50 words, 500 words or even 5,000 words. But one thing’s for certain, this was a life-changing experience.

Journalism was always the hopeful plan, but it didn’t seem like an option I was able to take until I got here. My high school’s only version of “news” was a glorified morning announcements video posted on YouTube, made up of a few comedy skits. I had no interest in taking part in that, as it wasn’t going to teach me anything.

At the time, I was an environmental science major at my high school — they called it “concentrations” at Pittsburgh SciTech, but it’s the same thing. This was a strange institution.

I enjoyed learning about volatile organic compounds, endocrine disruptors and superfund sites, of which an encampment of unhoused individuals in the North Side was declared one by the city at the time, yet never mentioned on the EPA’s website.

But in the midst of my senior year of high school, my passion for the subject was gone. The year dragged on.

Now, going anywhere but Point Park was out of the question. As a freshman in high school, one class we had to take was “post-secondary preparation.” It’s exactly what it sounds like – encouragement to go to college, which includes calculating the cost of going to university and what schools could be a good option for students.

In that class, we had to present about a university of the teacher’s choice. The teacher gave me Point Park, which I did not know even existed until then. I did research on the university’s programs, saw the robust communication and journalism program and basically admired them from afar while doing this project, because I thought trying to be a journalist was not the right call.

That’s what my parents said, anyway.

But once my passion for environmental science as a career was gone, I knew I had to make a change. And this may have been one of the best decisions I ever made.

In my time going from a contributor, to opinions editor and running this newspaper since last February or so, I have seen a lot. I have burnt the midnight oil weekly and try to do as much possible behind the scenes to make this the best student newspaper in Pittsburgh.

But this isn’t about me. The achievements and new heights The Globe has reached since my full-time tenure began in August are because of our small yet mighty team of people who care to keep this newspaper going.

Go ahead and look at the masthead where our staff is listed. Tell them thank you, because they’re the ones who keep The Globe “spinning” and will continue to do so in my absence.

And my want for getting into journalism didn’t spawn from thin air; rather, it started because of the newspapers I was already reading as a kid. A hearty shoutout goes out to both The Bulletin and Pittsburgh City Paper. If it weren’t for these two newspapers teaching me about the world around me and getting me interested in the idea of writing real stories about real happenings and people, I wouldn’t be writing this.

Plus, while my high school did not encourage, nor generally care, for journalism when I went there, one teacher always supported me with my writing and pushed me to do more. My English teacher throughout junior and senior year, Mrs. Patricia Barbas at Pittsburgh SciTech, was one of the first people to believe in this dream of mine as soon as I made it clear I wanted to pursue it. So, thank you, Mrs. Barbas.

Almost every person I’ve interacted with for a story, every journalist I’ve ever met and those who are always asking the right questions deserve recognition too. You all motivate me to keep at it, including the TV reporters I looked up to as a kid and the bylines I remembered seeing a lot in City Paper.

Every professor, mentor and friend I’ve had who has helped our team and I turn this newspaper back into something to be proud of deserves all the praise they can get. Critiquers, advisers and journalists giving tips who are still at it, including Globe alumni who have moved on to other things yet still want to help are a big part of our story of improvement.

And I would be remiss to not mention the person who got me to even consider applying to be in this role. If it weren’t for 2023-2024 editor-in-chief Erin Yudt, I probably would still just be writing opinion pieces and never gained the experience necessary to land my dream internship at 90.5 WESA – who are all wonderful people, might I add. So, thank you for pushing me into this role, Erin.

This might be my reflection, but the only reason I’m here is because of the people I’m surrounded by. Much love to you all, the campus community, Point Park University and those who still see the value in boots-on-the-ground, real reporting.

I won’t be a “helicopter parent” over this newspaper when I’m gone, but I will keep rooting for the people running it for as long as possible. The Globe may be losing me as an editor, but it will keep me as a staunch supporter. Don’t expect me to go anywhere, even if I don’t live in Pittsburgh anymore.

And one more thing, I’m coming clean: I added hundreds of songs to WPPJ’s general playlist when I had down time in the office. 300 songs on loop gets old quicker than one may expect, and I got tired of hearing “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd  and “Layla” by Derek & The Dominoes multiple times a day. Our student body probably was too. Much love to WPPJ’s DJs and staff, though.

Take care, Point Park.