My semi-professional experience with journalism started my freshman year of high school, when my journalism teacher told me that he would “hunt me down” if my name wasn’t on his class roster the next semester. Thanks Randy.

But there was no need for him to hunt me down, because my name showed up for that spring semester my freshman year and didn’t leave until I graduated in May 2022.

Coming into college, I was dead set on a history degree. I wanted to study ancient civilizations and work in museums, but I kept writing on the side as a reporter for The Sunflower.

After a couple semesters, a few breakdowns and a small crisis later, I added a journalism degree, keeping my history degree even though I had lost almost all of my passion for it.

My spark and passion for journalism was just igniting, and was fueled by the experiences I was gaining at The Sunflower.

In my second year, I took on a brief copy editor position before heading back to the role of reporter. It was last year when I started the process of taking on a whole new leadership role.

Allison Campbell, who served as the 2024-2025 Editor-in-Chief, asked me to be the arts and culture editor when the previous one stepped down at the end of the first semester. I stepped in as the interim editor and in that role, I turned the section on its head, giving it an entire revamp and building relationships on campus.

There’s no revamp without controversy however, and mine came during my first official week as Arts and Culture Editor. The infamous ”Spring Awakening” review haunts my legacy to this day, but I think the section grew and prospered under my leadership.

After that review, through conversations with the School of Performing Arts, I changed how we review student productions. We started publishing previews before shows open to benefit both The Sunflower’s readers and the shows.

Our current Editor-in-Chief, Taliyah Winn, selected me to continue my role as arts and culture editor this year and I’ve had several great opportunities and stories come out of it.

I was able to go to a conference in Washington, D.C. and meet career professionals and learn tips from them, which was an incredible experience. I was also able to participate in a media Q&A with Joe Walsh, when he came to Wichita for his VetsAid benefit concert, and was part of the team who got an exclusive interview with MatPat when he came to campus.

There are so many other opportunities and stories that I have written that I am proud of, but if I listed them all, you would be reading for a while.

If I also thanked everyone individually, it would take up so many words, so I’ll keep that brief.

Thank you to both Allison and Taliyah. I wouldn’t have had such a wonderful last two years if the two of you hadn’t had faith in me to give me the role and to let me continue.

Though I am happy to be graduating, I will miss working for The Sunflower and the great student journalists I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know and working with. The newsroom is such a welcoming place, and I’m happy to be leaving it in capable hands with our younger editors.

Keep doing what you’re doing guys. I’m proud of you all.

I leave you, the readers, with a final thought. Don’t let controversy keep you down or stop you from achieving great things. Also, don’t be afraid to step into a role when you’re not sure if you’re ready. I’ll let you in on a secret: you’ll never be ready.

Jumping into things unprepared led me to some of the best experiences and friendships I could’ve experienced in college.

So get out there and do the thing you’re scared of.