By Mark Walters

Well I’m not gonna lie to you, this is probably gonna get a little self-serving.

I’m about to graduate. Nevermind that I don’t have a job doing the one thing I love to do more than anything–writing about sports–but it isn’t easy to say goodbye to a place that has been home for the past four years. Personally I’m ecstatic that I’m making it out in four years, a rarity these days.

Put simply it’s bittersweet, this farewell of mine. From my forced double as a freshman in Colonial Square to a “luxurious” suite in Nassau/Suffolk, I feel as though I’ve served my time here. Run my course if you will, and I will.

With all I’ve done, in covering the wrestling team, the baseball team, and now the men’s lacrosse team, I’d like to apologize to the coaches and athletes for not having done more. Additionally I’d like to thank them all for having patience with me, for putting up with my seemingly pointless questions, interviews, phone calls, all that junk.

Seth Tierney, his team. Tom Shifflet, Rob Anspach, Joe Dubuque, all the wrestlers, a stand-up coaching staff right there. You guys have truly been a joy and a thrill to watch and write about. Jim Sheehan, you’re the man and the last of a dying breed so keep it real. The man that brought me here, James Sewell and the one who kept me here, Pete Alfano… Love you guys. The cross country team, ‘Oh definite!’

This next paragraph is for the sports I didn’t get a chance to cover. Soccer, tennis, golf, et al. I didn’t start writing for this paper till my junior year, spring semester at that, so again, I could have done so much more. I’m living with that regret, but even once I got started I could only do so much. Some teams don’t get the regular coverage as others, but really that’s just the way it works. Again, all apologies, but to say that we’re understaffed as a paper is an understatement.

To the professors that helped me, even it wasn’t for journalism. The editors, Dave, Alana, Nick, Stephen, thanks for giving me the freedom and blessing to really tackle things my way. Everyone else up in that office, it’s been something else. How we produce a newspaper every week is beyond me and always will be.

Working at a college paper has given me more joy than I could have ever imagined and really fired me up to get a job with a newspaper. It’s fueled my passion, taught me things I couldn’t ever have learned in a classroom, and introduced me to the grind, the ins and outs if you will. Again, I will.

Walking around campus these past few weeks and months, I’m not gonna lie, it has been nostalgic. Looking at Hofstra Hall from across the quad surrounded by Calkins, Barnard and Brower Halls. The Student Center, and my personal favorite place on campus, just outside the second-floor entrance at the Physical Fitness Center, overlooking the Hofstra Soccer Stadium.

What’s it all mean? I’ve spent my time here tirelessly. Sleepless nights, long practices, nights in the Hammer Lab, the Chronicle office, running around Eisenhower Park for cross country workouts, Mitchell Field during track season, in the Mack for rowdy basketball games and wrestling matches with the spotlight shining on Lou Ruggirello, Jonny Bonilla-Bowman and Alton Lucas, freezing my hands off in early April covering the baseball team, and a perfect Saturday night sky lit up by Shuart Stadium and stars like Tom Dooley, Michael Colleluori and Jay Card.

I guess I don’t really have a point, except it’s been one hell of a ride, but it’s time to get off. No more Dizzy’s or Nacho’s. No more waking up late for 11:10a.m. classes. No more facebook just to waste time.

I’m not doing the graduation ceremony, but it’s time to walk. To take a step away from this great University. Finally, I will.