I can’t believe I have reached this point in my collegiate career: I am editing my last issue of The Charger Bulletin, I have run my last track meet, and this is my last week of undergraduate classes at the University of New Haven.

I can’t say I know what comes next, because, let’s be honest, I have no clue; but I can reflect on the many memories I have from my time at UNH that has led me down the path I wish to pursue when I graduate.
I will start with an embarrassing story, because as I sit here with tears welling in my eyes, it is the only thing that can hold them back.

I knew I wanted to come to UNH for as long as I can remember and I didn’t really apply anywhere else. I applied early action, annoyed my track coaches with what seemed like daily emails and wore the UNH t-shirt I got during an open house every night to bed from the time I sent in my application till the day I got the phone call that changed my life.

The day my acceptance phone call came was like any other normal day. My dad had picked me up from practice like always, but when we got home my mom was acting weird – an overly happy kind of weird. She reached to play back the recording of my acceptance phone call that came earlier that day and all I can remember is running laps around my living room and kitchen before promptly calling all my family members.

August came before I knew it. I had graduated high school and bought out the entire stock of Bed Bath & Beyond’s college section; but that was the easy part. It was move-in day, and the actual moving in part went pretty smoothly, but then it was time for my parents to leave and I lost it. I was convinced I couldn’t do this and told my dad to take me home. While he wouldn’t let me give up that easy, it was just two short days later when I returned home since campus was evacuated because of Hurricane Irene – only of the many weather-related storms endured during my time at UNH.

Since the day I returned to campus, till this very day, life has continued to be just as much of a rollercoaster. I have accomplished the many goals set before me including, acquiring Editor-in-Chief of The Charger Bulletin, President of Lambda Pi Eta, remaining a dedicated student-athlete, studying abroad…twice, having an internship at The New Haven Register and so much more. However, I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family, and the friends at UNH that have become my family.

These last couple weeks are surely bittersweet, but I couldn’t be more excited to hand over the reins to Editor-in-Chief, Elissa Sanci, and Assistant Editor, Samantha Higgins. You both have been dedicated to the paper since the day you each started, and I know that you will do a great job next year.

The Charger Bulletin has been my life for four years and my goal in life is to write for a publication that makes me as proud to be a journalist as I have felt since the day I saw my first article published.