Writing has always been something that has come easy to me. It’s the reason I came to Syracuse University, the reason I am majoring in journalism and the reason I chose to work here, at The Daily Orange.

As I sit on the steps of Hendricks Chapel, I have no idea what to write. How can I summarize the impact this paper has had on me in 1,000 words? Writing this duck feels like a goodbye that I am not yet ready to make.

So instead, I want this to be a thank you letter to this paper, this house and this family of people I have met through my over one year of working here.

The D.O.: I have never been someone who scares easily, in fact I joke I have no sense of fear at all, but through working here I have realized, that is not true. From covering the encampment, to huge campus-wide protests, to an SU alumni stuck in Gaza, all the way back to my AI beat, I have experienced some of the worst fear of my life this year and this week, although I did my best to hide it.

I could not be more grateful for this fear, however. My most rewarding stories I have written have been the ones I was most scared to write.

To the paper and people I have spent my last year with, thank you for showing me what happens outside of my comfort zone. I owe my courage to you.

—

Kendall Luther: I know you hear this all of the time but you are just wonderful. I am so lucky to call you the best news editor, but even more importantly my friend. You have a unique ability to handle carrying the world on your shoulders without ever letting it affect how you treat others, never lose that. I cannot wait to be friends forever and to read your 1,500 word duck about how much you love me.

Kyle Chouinard: I am going to miss copy checking your over 1,500 word stories, truly. There is no one else at this school that I look up to more than you. Can’t wait to watch you change the world. Maybe read the Harry Potter books while you’re at it.

Claire Samstag: My core memory of this place will always be a random girl on Instagram (you) DM’ing me on Instagram to meet before going to the D.O. house for the first time. Standing on the corner across the street debating who would have to walk into the house first will always make me laugh. I am so glad this paper brought me you, let’s take pictures at frats together forever.

Roxanne Boychuk: I regularly think about our car ride home that one time to South Campus as we vented about working here. You are an amazing reporter, let’s be copy partners-in-crime forever.

Anish Vasudevan: You are one of the best reporters I know, and an even better EIC. Thank you for always making me laugh, the D.O. wouldn’t be the same without you. Special shoutout for cutting a thousand “that”’s out of my stories this year without killing me.

Bridget Overby: I just love you. Let’s be friends forever. Thank you for making the D.O. what it is.

Griffin Uribe Brown: You are just better than the rest of us. How you so easily can move between sections or how you became 10x better than me or Claire at dig so quickly is beyond me. Your love for journalism shows in everything you do. You are a great reporter and you are going to kill it in DC.

Ahna Fleming: AHNA! You are one of the kindest and most compassionate people and it shows in every single thing you write. You are an amazing writer, and I am SO glad we are friends. Can’t wait for us to party together next semester.

Julia Boehning: I wish I loved anything like you love SA. Seriously though, watching you turn from our SA beat writer into one of the best reporters I know has been so fun. You are going to make a wonderful news editor and I am always a text away.

Claire Harrison: COME HOME. You are one of the first people I knew here and you immediately made me feel like I belong, thank you for that.

Faith Bolduc: Thank you for being a light every time I came into the house this year. You are a great writer and I am so excited to see what you do.

Dom Chiappone: You are my idol. Any time I am doing anything D.O. related, and honestly just in life, I now think “What would Dom do?” Somehow it seems like you have more hours in the day than the rest of us, but it’s just because of how insanely much you care. My time at the D.O. would not be the same without you. I am SO excited to see what you do.

Sophie Szydlik and Stef Mitchell: You both are the reason the D.O. is what it is. I look up to both of you so insanely much and although I hated dig, you guys made it fun.

Stephanie Wright: Thank you for taking a chance on the freshman girl who had no idea what she was doing. I have had so many moments of self-doubt this year, and at every turn you have reassured me that I belong here. I can’t thank you enough for that. You are going to do such an amazing job as EIC and I will never stop cheering you on.

Fall 2024 News Team: DON’T FORGET TO HAVE FUN! Working here will bring some of the hardest, but most rewarding moments of your time at SU. Embrace them.

My friends and family: Thank you for always being there for me. I’m sad I can no longer use The D.O. as an excuse for why I don’t answer my phone for 4-5 business days.

Mic drop.

Published on May 6, 2024 at 12:02 pm

Contact Samantha: saolande@syr.edu