I’m not typically a sentimental type of person, so forgive me in advance if this isn’t the cry your eyes out goodbye you were looking for.

I came to Pace four years ago with little to no expectations about how things would turn out for me. I didn’t expect to be less than three weeks away from graduation and not want to leave. I know I, like many others, complain about Pace all the time, but I never give it credit for all it has given me.

Four years ago during orientation when I bonded with a girl from Long Island over how much we didn’t want to do the group dance competition and hated that we had to be orientated for three days – I never expected her to later be known by professors as my partner in crime. Although I should’ve known when we found out we had identical schedules and she laughed at my use of the word “chillax-opotamus”.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined myself a Women’s and Gender Studies minor, but thanks to Rachel Simon and all her amazingness awakening the dormant feminist in me, I am now someone who is not afraid to voice my opinion about inequality and oppression in any form and will march to make my case.

When I decided to become a Communications major, it was because I wanted to work in publishing like in The Devil Wears Prada. I wasn’t completely certain what PR was, but I was almost positive it had something to do with being in front of the camera and public speaking, which are two things that definitely made the list of “Things I Fear the Most”. Nevertheless, for some reason, a man with a shiny bald head that practically laughed in my face anytime I called him Dr. Ziek, thought I might be good at it anyway. Now I’m going to be the first graduate with the Public Relations major, my how the tables have turned. And Ziek is my favorite mentor/professor/life guru along with Dr. P, whom I adore and wish I could’ve taken more of her classes.

Writing for the Chronicle was never in the cards. I literally laughed at the idea because I’m not the journalist type. Yes, I love writing but never for other people to actually read. I’ve had a few poems and short stories published secretly, but didn’t think that qualified me as a person who should be writing things for regular human consumption. I was convinced by a certain journalism professor named Kevin Czerwinski and I sometimes regret listening, but if I didn’t I wouldn’t have met some of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. Who knew I’d actually enjoy doing something that I loved in an academic setting?

Which brings me to my friends, you all have made this whole Pace experience bearable. From my little crew that used to make random trips to the city and now plan vacations with, to my friends that taught me how to “kick the dust up”, to my newspaper buds, to my shady soulmates, to my Thursday night dinner squad, to my MOD queens, to my fellow scullery maids/ goal diggers – you all have found a way into my stone cold heart. I can’t possibly name all of you because it would make this already long goodbye even longer, sue me later. You’ve become more like family than friends to me and have proven that I can count on you time and time again. Especially when my entire world came to crashing stop after my mother passed at the start of this semester, you all sent love and support to me in your own little ways, whether you knew it or not, and I will never forget it.

I don’t know what I did in my past life to deserve all of you, but I am eternally grateful. You don’t judge me for my random outbursts of thoughts and noises alike or for drooling after boys I have to break my neck to look up at, and I love you all for that. I hope we continue to stay in each other’s lives.

Lastly, I’d like to thank Pace. For giving me the best of times and the worst of times, for teaching me the value of a good teacher, and for the B.S..

I will miss you all dearly.

Stay golden.

Your Former Copy Editor,

The Girl Who Sits in and Sings to the Rain for Fun (Janine Jones)