I would not be pursuing journalism if it weren’t for my high school newspaper, The Patriot Press. My time on that staff is when I realized my love of writing and developed an appreciation for working in a team, where everyone has individual responsibilities but can come together to produce one newspaper, something we can hold and be proud of.

Back then no one took me seriously, and I can’t blame them. As an editor of the humor and satire section, I didn’t take my work seriously. It wasn’t meant to be taken seriously.

When I came to Hofstra, I made a vow to change that. Looking back on my last four years, I believe I’ve accomplished my goal.

The Hofstra Chronicle was the first student media organization I joined. I wrote a few articles for the sports section and eventually expressed interest in photographing games. I’ve loved photography since I was young but had never considered shooting sports – until then.

Throughout my four years, I’ve shot roughly 100 sporting events. I’ve covered as many as I could, always wanting to improve. I love the photojournalistic challenge of capturing fleeting moments. I’ve covered conference and NCAA tournaments, beat out professional photographers for a local media award and been published in national news outlets. I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunities I’ve received throughout my time at Hofstra.

For many reasons college has been a difficult four years. The pandemic certainly didn’t help. Early on, I bought into the competitive culture promoted by the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication (LHSC) and this industry as a whole. I was being told constantly to get involved and grind to progress my career every minute, otherwise I’d never be successful. This industry is exhausting, and it’s led me to burn out at times, constantly seeing status updates starting with “I’m excited to announce” and questioning my own work as well. I know I’m not alone in having these feelings.

Despite all of this, I do the work because I love it. I love storytelling. There’s no greater feeling than getting “the shot” or the puzzle of editing a package to flow in the best way. There’s no greater feeling than a source of a story saying your article stood out among others written about them.

I’ve learned two major lessons in the last four years. Firstly, life is all about balance. I’m so much more than my work, and while it’s easier said than done, finding a balance between work and play is essential. Secondly, I wouldn’t have moved across the country to attend Hofstra if I didn’t seek discomfort. I believe growth and the most fulfilling aspects of life happen outside of our comfort zones. I encourage people to get out of theirs.

As I leave Hofstra and the Chronicle, I want to thank everyone who’s ever taken a chance on me. A special thanks to Robert Kinnaird for bringing me on as an assistant multimedia editor my sophomore year. Thank you to my co-editors for always picking up my slack when I was too busy to contribute to papers.

Thank you to everyone I’ve interviewed (or been interviewed by) who pushed me out of my socially anxious comfort zone and made me a stronger person as a result.

Thank you to Student Center Room 203 (the Chronicle office) for simply being my home, from Monday night layout laughs to frequent days and nights in there on my own, either having dance parties or emotional breakdowns. Lastly, thank you to my friends and fellow student journalists who work tirelessly to make the Chronicle the absolute best it can be.

Thousands of words and photos later, I have a lot to be thankful for because of the Chronicle – growing not just as a journalist but as a person. After I graduate, I’m excited to see where my camera takes me. For years, my dream has been to travel the world telling stories. Everything I’ve done and will do is in pursuit of that goal. Thank you to the Chronicle for helping to get me one step closer. Thank you for all that you’ve given me.