Who knew time could pass you by so quickly? As the fall semester nears its end, I find myself like many other graduating seniors, looking back at found memories and wondering just how four years could pass so fast.

I began my first semester like most freshmen, excited to learn about my major, which at the time was computer science, constantly getting lost around campus, and taking the various general education classes required at UWS. However, little did I know just how important that Introduction to Communication (COMM 110) class, taught by Tom Hansen, would be for my goals when it came to my education and all the doors it would open up.

I had such a great time in the class as it was like nothing, I had taken prior. There was such a strong feeling of community, an urge to get you out of your comfort zone, and just the wide range of topics discussed during the class made it something special to me. So much so that before I knew it, I had gone to my advisor and declared communications as my major.

This journey would eventually lead me to joining The Promethean and starting with absolutely no knowledge of how to properly write a news article, interview someone for an article, or even the best way to begin conversation with them. Not to mention how to take a proper photo and how to pick out a few good ones rather than having several hundred. Thanks to the wonderful staff at the time, I was able to quickly pick up these core skills and begin to improve them and get better with each article that I wrote.

Eventually this led to my choosing of multimedia journalism as my minor and getting to learn even more than I already had about journalism and the editing process. These classes combined with Hansen’s mentoring allowed me the opportunity of becoming assistant editor for the Promethean and even begin to take on the role of helping new members learn the ropes like I did.

Earlier on I touched on how Tom helped inspire me and get me started down the communications path which led to where I am now. As my graduation date nears, I just want to say how thankful I am that he made that class so enjoyable and how welcome he makes every student feel here at UWS. Without him I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I know that I would know very little on the subject of journalism without his expertise.

Whether it be from his antidotes about the news industry when he was in college, lectures in class, or informing me that I need to look into the AP handbook about proper formatting on an article during layout weekend, I am so grateful of my opportunity to learn and discover this wonderful path of education.

Though, I think what I miss most of all will be our shared enjoyment of mega buddies. After reading this I hope he will have one on me.

Finally, I wanted to say thank you and farewell to the Promethean staff of 2023. Many of whom I have been with for years now and begin working on my minor at the same time as them.

I have always heard people say that they make a family while away from home, but I never realized just how true that statement is until now as I am about to move on from what I have known for what is essentially, my entire adult life.

Farewell UWS, I will always be grateful for my time here and all of the opportunities presented to me. While this is the end of one journey, I am ready to see what the next adventure has in store for me and where all I will end up.