Photo courtesy of Jacob Lewis.

As I am graduating, Hofstra, as well as the School of Communications and its professors, have prepared me for this moment. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge all that The Hofstra Chronicle has given me.

When I walked into the Chronicle office as a freshman interested in writing for Arts and Entertainment, I had no idea how this paper would impact my life. I wrote for multiple sections but found my place in the news section. I am so grateful to those who came before me for welcoming me with open arms into what can be an intense and challenging section to write for.

I learned so much about reporting and writing for a newspaper during those first couple of years and was thrilled to join e-board as a news editor my junior year. Being an editor is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done – it takes a lot of patience, diligence and hard work, but it has strengthened my reporting and writing skills more than anything I could have ever imagined.

In this position, I met the love of my life – InDesign (sorry, Jacob) – and some of my best friends. The community at the Chronicle is collaborative, supportive and fun. I will miss layout nights with absurd amounts of cookies, Taylor Swift and lots of laughter until the early hours of the morning.

The Hofstra Chronicle gave me a community where I belonged and a jumping-off point to begin my career as a journalist. I will truly miss investigating controversial topics on Hofstra’s campus and, to be frank, pissing people off with my work.

Never let yourself be silenced. Never stop asking questions. Never stop pushing buttons.

Thank you to everyone at The Hofstra Chronicle for giving me a chance when I was a wideeyed newbie and for supporting me throughout my time at Hofstra.

Sayonara, Sammy.