Tuesday night of this week I ate really good Oreo cheesecake and little bread bites that surprisingly ended up being filled with whatever makes pizza taste so perfect. I also attended my last Student Media banquet.

This semester’s banquet was my eighth, but I can honestly say it was the best. When I first joined Student Media, way back in fall of 2012, I remember going to the banquet because it was an obligation, and my editor was going to call me out at the next staff meeting if I wasn’t there to represent the sports crew.

This semester, as an executive for Student Media, it was the furthest thing from that. It was like a family reunion. It was like I was getting sent off into the world by some of my biggest supporters. Over the past four years, I have made a home for myself at Student Media, and it sure is bittersweet to have to leave.

Learning how to be a manager, learning how to be a teacher and learning how to work on a board were some of the hard things I had to cope with this past year. But, creating lasting relationships with so many people, getting involved all across the Statesboro community and finding myself along the way were some of the things that have made my senior year the greatest year at Georgia Southern yet.

Student Media allowed me to grow at Southern as a journalism professional and as a student trying to figure out life. I am so lucky that back when I was a freshman I was not afraid or hesitant to get involved immediately.

Whatever it is that you are passionate about, I guarantee there is something related to it at GS. Don’t wait; don’t second-guess yourself, you could potentially be missing out on one of the best decisions of your life.

I want to thank Student Media for all the experiences and the memories I have gained along the way. And, yes, that includes all the eight banquets that I will forever hold near and dear to my heart. I want to thank everyone who has helped guide and lead me in the direction I am in today. Georgia Southern and the people I have met along the way have surpassed everything I could have hoped for out of a university.

Goodbye Eagles.