Once upon a Thursday evening, I was dragged into a meeting by a friend. That meeting, up in Room 203 of the Sondra and David S. Mack Student Center, was my first of many Opinion section budget meetings. I remember walking in and meeting Makenzie Hurt and Ethan Albin, both of whom became some of my biggest mentors at Hofstra University.

As the calendar turned into sophomore year and I hit my stride as a staff writer within the Opinion section, I jumped at the opportunity to become an editor, which I did alongside my closest colleagues, Tim Daly and Tom Norman. Throughout my time in the Opinion section, I saw the impact of hyperlocal student journalism as writers demanded that their perspectives be heard, on several occasions sparking productive conversations on campus. I now watch our mentees, Anthony Favilla and Tom Saxa continue to uphold the highest levels of scrutiny and analysis of increasingly tumultuous current events.

This past year, I’ve had the honor of serving as The Hofstra Chronicle’s managing editor. Alongside Madeline Sisk, our editor-in-chief, I’ve watched the News section reinvent itself, the Opinion section continue to advocate for students and the Arts & Entertainment section keep the Hofstra community connected to the world of art. I’ve seen the Features section highlight the voices that give Hofstra its character, the Sports section follow the Pride to our first March Madness appearances in 25 years and the Multimedia section grow into a powerhouse.

While I leave this paper in an increasingly hostile environment for student journalism, I have peace of mind knowing that the Chronicle has, and will always, stand tall. It’s been an honor to have called the Chronicle home for the last few years, and I will forever be grateful for the friends and perspectives I’ve gained up in Room 203.