By Sophia StrawserMANAGING EDITOR

I’ve never liked goodbyes. Saying goodbye to my elementary school teachers, my friends before summer vacations or Mickey Mouse when leaving Disney, they’ve never been easy. And now here I am at the end of my undergraduate career saying some of the hardest goodbyes to date. (It’s a toss up with the Mickey Mouse goodbye but as of now the Hofstra goodbye is winning).
Saying goodbye to The Chronicle is one for the books. Right now, I’m happy to leave behind the layout nights that went till 4:00 a.m., but give me a few weeks and I’ll be staying up till 4:00 a.m. staring at a computer screen reading countless articles just for old times’ sake.
Not only have I grown as a writer, an editor and a person while in this office but I’ve watched other young journalists grow. This to me has been truly inspiring, watching each member of our staff find their voice and prepare for the big scary world that’s ahead of us.
I started writing for The Chronicle within the first month of my freshman year. Whether that was because that’s what Rory Gilmore would have done or because I was excited to be a part of this organization is still up for debate. Having seen the paper from the point of view of a writer, assistant editor, Features Editor and Managing Editor I feel like I’ve seen every side from which it ticks.
I have spent the last four years studying both writing and music. It seemed like a strange pairing for some but for me it was perfect. Hofstra, for me, was a choice based mainly off location and finances. Now four years later I know this is exactly where I was meant to be. My path was meant to cross the paths of all of you.
The friends I’ve made, the professors I’ve worked with, the music and writing I’ve created all made me into the “adult” that I claim to be. (I will be the first to say though that I’m looking for any kind of warranty or refund policy on this whole adulthood thing. Contact me if you have any leads on that matter).
As I enter into the real world, avoiding it slightly by heading to grad school, I can honestly say that Hofstra has prepared me. It’s given me quite a bit of debt to help me truly appreciate the taste of Ramen Noodles and cheap beer but it’s also given me skills I’ll use far beyond May 17th.
The Chronicle has been a huge part of helping me decide how I want to incorporate writing into my professional life. These people have become my family and have seen me at my mediocre best and at 4:00 a.m., slowly dying while reading over the sports section.
I can’t say I’m heading in the same direction Rory Gilmore went, but starting my college career like she did has surely made me happy in the end.