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After nearly four years with the FSView and Florida Flambeau, it’s time to pass the torch. 

Since the spring of 2018 when I joined the paper, journalism has been such a central part of my life. For a long time now, storytelling and sharing information has become a part of my daily routine. My desire to connect with people is something that has become an extension of myself, and being the vehicle for which people can have a platform to speak, share their experiences and engage in the tough discourse of our current moment has truly been an honor. 

I had always been a news and current events junkie prior to coming to college. One day, I saw a lone issue of the FSView in a dusty, heavily vandalized newspaper box calling my name outside the Health and Wellness Center. It was love at first sight. Reading it made me feel like I was connecting with FSU in a way I hadn’t before. After that, they say the rest is history. 

After joining the News section, I lived for our weekly pitch meetings where colleagues-turned-friends sat around and talked at length about campus and community topics that needed spotlight. I have a special place in my heart for local news, and after what seemed like forever, I found people that valued truth, information and justice in the same ways I did. 

I’ve covered a wide variety of topics as a reporter for the FSView. I’ve attended more vigils than I care to admit, written about Greek life suspensions at length, and appeared at the most random campus events you could think of. 

After another year on staff, I was promoted straightaway to News Editor. Though exciting, I felt immense pressure in this role to remain as a guiding force for the staff, using every opportunity to educate myself on the ins and outs of AP Style (taking Advanced Writing and Editing helped with that immensely) and set an example to empower my team to chase those intense stories. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support of my deputy editor, Casey Chapter, by my side. Thank you for your endless commitment to the paper and friendship over the last few years. I know you’ll always be an advocate for our community. 

Assuming the role as Editor-in-Chief of a historic publication during a pandemic was both challenging and exhilarating. COVID-19 forced our paper to look at the way we report events and see just how vast our reach was in Tallahassee. It was a humbling feeling to see the community and our parent paper, The Tallahassee Democrat, sharing our stories and looking to the FSView as a source for student experiences amid the virus. With the most dedicated editorial staff and team of writers behind me, the FSView accomplished amazing things this year despite the adversity we faced. I’d like to extend a special thanks to the managing editor, Gary Putnik, for your devotion, honesty and support during these few semesters. I could always count on you to balance my energy and think critically about a situation. 

Journalism gave me purpose outside academia. I can say with confidence that I spent every day as EIC thinking about how we could bring more coverage to the community, how to adapt to a constantly evolving news cycle while balancing school, challenges from the virus and more. I'm glad to say I even had fun along the way! I'm so humbled and grateful to be in the presence of so many talented, passionate and ambitious journalists that have taught me how to be the best manager and friend. I'm confident that the editorial staff will carry the legacy of this historic publication to new heights and uphold the Vires, Artes and Mores of FSU. 

My time with the FSView has resulted in something so much bigger than myself. I'm so profoundly passionate about information and writing, and this paper has helped shape who I am down to the core. In addition to all the perks that come with practicing my writing chops weekly, I have become a more tuned in member of my community, a better listener and more patient as a result.

I've realized that absolutely nothing is worth doing if you aren't passionate about it, and I encourage everyone to say "yes" to an unfamiliar opportunity once in a while. I credit my parents for helping me do that. They encouraged me to dig deeper, find my roots and think hard about my “why.” Mom, Dad, Jaden and Austin, I thank you endlessly for your unwavering and unconditional support throughout my collegiate journey. You helped me find my love for the Liberal Arts again and find that happiness and true success comes with genuine love for what you do. For me, I found that in the Editing, Writing and Media major and the FSView. 

As for what’s next, who knows, especially in the age of COVID-19. I “officially” graduated on Saturday, April 17, but I still have a week left of exams, lots of packing and much thinking to do before we close this chapter. As my dad likes to say, “sometimes, you gotta just kick the can and see where it goes.” That’s exactly what I’ll be doing for the foreseeable future as I search for my next big “why.”

So long, partner. 

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