To sum up in words what this experience has been for me, well, there are just not enough pages in the world.
Dr. Fleming,
To say you are one of my biggest mentors would be an understatement. Everything you do, not just for us but for all the comm clubs on campus, will never go unnoticed. You have made this department into what it is today. It was a pleasure getting to learn from you, getting to work on a team that you shaped. My only regret is that I didn’t join staff sooner… or take any of your classes. You were the best professor I never had! My biggest joy is that I will get to see you at least once a year at the Johnstown Slovak festival! And I wouldn’t want to share my addiction to Alani with anyone else!
Soph,
You gave me my start. You wanted a woman in sports, and I am glad I was able to fulfill that for you. I hope I met your expectations. You will forever be an inspiration to me. Always rooting for the little guy, always taking care of everyone else. You gave me a perfect first semester on staff. You once said something to me that I’ll never forget. I literally cannot; it is etched into my skin. During my first month on staff, you said to me, “You’re gonna go far.” Not only is that one of my favorite Noah Kahn songs, but that gave me just the hope I needed to keep doing this job. Yes, it gets hard, and we are going to fall down. But you were always there to pick us up, and you still are.
Aidan,
Oh my gosh, where do I even begin? How do I sum up into one paragraph everything you have done for me in just two short years? I would not be anywhere near where I am right now if it weren’t for you. All those late night “Here ya go” emails to send in my articles, the teamwork and the guidance. I was lucky to be your assistant. I hope that your decision to hire me rather than do the job by yourself was still a good one. I learned so much from you, lessons I will never forget. Even though you are the most stressed-out person I have ever met, you taught me to slow down. That there is a simple explanation for everything if you just talk it out. I hope I took the job of Sports Editor and made you proud.
Hayden,
All the big life lessons I have learned in college, they came from you. That if you work hard, good things will happen, and to take every opportunity that comes your way, because you never know what might come of it. You were someone to look up to. To this day, I still do not know how you juggled three campus jobs and a full course load in your last semester here. It is arguably because of you that I have gone out of my comfort zone and started networking more, and doing more public events for The Rocket to get my face out there. That is something you taught me: you can never network enough. And I can only hope that whatever I have done leads to great things like you did. I miss our random office conversations. The office just is not the same without you and your standing desk.
Garrett,
My right hand and go-getter. I’ll never be able to thank you for the countless late nights in the office while I wrapped up stories, endless supply to my Alani addiction and your willingness to take any crazy story idea I threw at you. It has been a pleasure getting to work with you and train you. I can only hope that, whether or not you are sitting in my seat next semester, you continue doing what you love. Keep being involved in the athletic teams on campus and keep being a part of the other clubs. Keep building your portfolio and add to your resume. Take the reputation Aidan and I made with the sports department and run with it because I guarantee it will lead to good things! I am so proud of you!
Paige,
I would not even be sitting here in this position if it weren’t for you. You pushed me to throw my hat in the ring, sat with me during my interview with Soph and Aidan, and edited my first article published online. You have been with me every step of the way, all the way back to freshman year. I could not be happier to call you a friend. To car rides with us blasting show tunes while we deliver papers, our crazy office conversations, to walking side by side through campus so often, it’s weird to see one of us without the other. I am so proud of everything you’ve accomplished. I just know you are going to do amazing things. I’m just sad I won’t get to sit by you at graduation.
Kayla,
Oh, the ray of sunshine that you are! I am going to miss you so much. From your infectious laugh to your bright smile, it was hard not to be in a good mood around you. You just make everything better. I remember when you were so nervous to take over the student life section, but I never doubted you. You were a great assistant editor, and I knew you would excel as the section editor. You just keep doing what you are doing, and you are going places.
Annabelle,
The iconic pink hair! My desk buddy! You were such an inspiration! You never failed to bring the energy up in the office; you were the life of every party. I love seeing what you are up to now. It gives us all something to aspire to. Thank you for all your encouragement when I first joined the staff. It was partly because of you that I believed I could do this job. I miss bumping chairs, and I miss you!
Audrey,
The perfect yin to Kayla’s yang. I have never seen a better duo. You two are unstoppable. And Audrey, your work ethic never goes unnoticed. You are constantly busy with the paper and your major. How you handle it all is aspiring. I’m so lucky to have met you and gotten to know you. Continue to work hard, to do great things. I cannot wait to see what you do in the future.
Chloe,
My Chloe girl! My In the Quad bestie! My hummingbird tattoo twin with Soph! I am so, so proud of everything you have accomplished. You have done some amazing things in your time here, and I cannot wait to see what you do next. I love all of our memories together from funny In the Quad moments to being next-door neighbors. I am going to miss you so much!
Gillian,
My hometown buddy! I will never forget the first couple of times we interacted and discovered that we lived so close by. I know we are not too far from home, but getting to talk with you about our favorite local places and sharing funny high school stories made home feel that much closer. And now I love it whenever my parents run into you in town and text me telling me you said hi, it brings the biggest smile to my face!
Myles,
You basically did the impossible. You took on the role of News Editor after only being on staff for barely a month. It is so impressive how you stepped up and made the role your own. And you are already winning awards! Whatever seat you are in next semester, I know you will do great things! Just keep being you, no one else.
Will,
The new life of the party! The biggest personality! You were the best choice to fill Assistant News and to make the staff whole. You always have the craziest stories, and it is something new every day. It is partly because of you that our office is always filled with laughter. But you do an amazing job at your job. Being thrown into the deep end on a print week, just like I was when I started, but you excelled. You learned from the people around you, and you made the job your own. Continue to stay involved!
Eddie,
Your keen eye brings the paper to life with your pictures. Every photo you take is so full of life that it can tell the story itself. Thank you for all the late nights working on pages. You poured your blood, sweat and life into this paper, and it would not be half as good without you. Wherever you go after graduation, whatever you end up doing, that camera is going to take you far.
DEARL,
Somehow, we managed to find a spitting image of Ed to hire as his assistant. You are following right in his footsteps by joining staff so young. Learn everything you can from him while you have him. Take all of those good qualities and make the job yours. You are going to do amazing things; just apply yourself like I know you can!
CHEESE!
To this day, I still do not know why your nickname is Cheese, but I cannot call you anything else. I remember seeing the Meet the Staff page after you got hired, and I thought to myself, ‘Who the heck is Jacob?’ You know, you put in the hardest work out of all of us! I am so glad you decided to join staff.
August,
Taking The Rocket into motion picture with all the videos you capture and all the Weekly News Round-up clips it takes until we get it right. You were just the right person to fill that chair. I am lucky that I got to work with you. I cannot wait to see the work you continue to thrive in, and I could not be happier that you want to expand the multimedia section. Continue to push for that!
Maddie,
You paved the way. Created an amazing section. Weekly News Round-Up started with you, and so many other things are being carried on. August decorated their desk with little figurines, and all I thought of was when that desk was yours with the little village you had under your desktop. Thank you for continuing to check up on me even now that your graduated!
