Without The Hofstra Chronicle, I would not be where I am today. I would not be pursuing a career in sports photography, I probably would not care about sports other than baseball, I would not have met some of my closest friends and I definitely would not be the editor-in-chief. If you had told my freshman self that she would become the EIC of Hofstra’s newspaper and would be publishing this in the sports section, where her photographs have regularly been in the layout, she never would have believed you.

As a student who first discovered journalism through my high school’s television station and video production class, I entered my college search and Hofstra with an interest solely in broadcast journalism. I loved reporting, recording and editing packages, so when I entered Studio A in the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication for the first time, I was in awe of all the opportunities Hofstra had to offer. 

As a bright-eyed freshman, I overcommitted myself – and continue to do so – and joined all the communications-related clubs I could. In my first semester, I filmed and edited comedic music videos and packages for the Emmy-Award-winning show Thursday Nite Live and worked on social media for Hofstra Today. My focus was undoubtedly in video, so becoming invested in the Chronicle through photography was not at all a priority. 

It wasn’t until after the onset of the pandemic, during my second semester of sophomore year that writing and photographing for the Chronicle became a priority. Through the Chronicle I was able to discover and pursue two loves of mine, theater and sports – a contradiction, I’m sure. 

It began with a burning desire to have images to accompany my writing when covering how the Hofstra men’s soccer team overcame the countless interruptions to their season that COVID-19 brought on. I began photographing the team just to have an image that would be published alongside my written work in the Chronicle, but I haven’t stopped photographing sports five semesters later. 

The necessity to have an image I had taken accompany my writing about men’s soccer served as the climactic moment pushing me to pursue sports photography, join the editorial board of the Chronicle as a photography editor and become a student social media manager for men’s soccer. Without that initial desire, I would not be @alexisgracefotos, sports photographer and EIC of the Chronicle. 

My time working on the Chronicle’s staff and writing for every section has taught me many things, but the most impactful lesson has been how this paper truly changes your life. The fact that the 2019-20 editor-in-chief Taylor Rose Clarke is memorialized over the EIC’s desk is living proof of that. I never had the pleasure of meeting Taylor, but I feel that we are kindred spirits, especially due to our passion for sharing perspectives others might not inherently see and the incredible impact this newspaper has had on both of us. 

I’d like to thank every single person involved with the Chronicle throughout my time at Hofstra and all the way back to 1935. Without every single individual on our staff, we would not be where we are today. Working alongside every member of our editorial board and copy team this semester has been a dream, and I am so grateful for each and every one of you. 

First and foremost, thank you to Anna DeGoede, who has been an incredible managing editor this year and become one of my closest friends. I cannot imagine anyone else I would rather have the pleasure of working alongside this year. You are truly an InDesign queen, and I cannot wait to see where you take the Chronicle next year. 

Thank you to Anthony Roberts for believing in me and encouraging me to apply for the editor-in-chief position at that Yankees-Red Sox game. Without your encouragement, I would have missed out on one of the most rewarding experiences during my time at Hofstra, so I am forever grateful. 

A massive thank you to Brian McFadden, the Chronicle’s faculty advisor and my first-year mass media professor who introduced me to writing about theater for our class blog, leading me to write for Arts and Entertainment. You are an amazing professor and advisor who I cannot imagine my time at Hofstra without. Thank you for your dedication to supplying the office with Milanos and all kinds of treats that give us all a sugar high each layout night. 

Thank you to Jacob Lewis and Adam Flash for bringing me on as an assistant multimedia editor during my junior year. Your belief in my work empowered me to continue to practice and pursue photography, so thank you both so much for that. 

A special thank you to Karla Schuster from University Relations for your endless support, encouragement and advice. You are amazing and I am so thankful to know you. 

Deans Mark Lukasiewicz, Adria Marlowe, Michele Roberts and David Henne, thank you so much for your support of the Chronicle and every student who graces LHSC. 

Thank you to the entire Hofstra Athletics staff, from administrators to coaches and student athletes, for your continuous support and for allowing me to grow in my passion for sports photography with the countless opportunities to photograph nearly every sport on this campus. 

I’m not great at saying goodbye, and I cannot imagine saying goodbye just yet to this incredible place, the home of friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. 

This isn’t goodbye, just a see you later.

Photo courtesy of Derek Futterman