“Yes I’m changing, yes I’m gone/ Yes I’m older, yes I’m moving on/ And if you don’t think it’s a crime you can come along with me.”
This is one of the opening lyrics from Tame Impala’s “Yes I’m Changing,” a song about saying goodbye to your former self and moving onward to the future. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate song for the soon-to-be graduate.
When people say, “college is for finding yourself,” they’re not just making a cliche remark. Throughout my time at Gannon University, I’ve worn many hats, trying to figure out exactly who I am. I started out as a typical freshman, uncertain and afraid to go against the flow of what was deemed “normal.” I joined a sorority, I stayed out too late, I didn’t take very good care of myself. I disaffiliated from a sorority, joined more clubs, learned more about my major, still wasn’t taking very good care of myself. I shut myself in, I blocked people out. I went in and out of counseling. I hung out with people who weren’t the right fit for me. I learned to take care of myself, I let people in. I fell in love again. I fell in love with my life, with my major, with my friends, with my family and with myself. And throughout this whole, wild crazy ride, one thing has remained constant: Edge.
I still remember the first article I wrote for Edge as a freshman. It was entitled “5 Things about the Magic Cookie Company,” and it was truly awful. I remember I was too scared to go interview the owners of the bakery, so all my information was from the company’s website or from word-of-mouth. Ugh, what an amateur. I’m surprised Zach Flock still offered me a job as a contributor after that train wreck.
A lot has changed since that first article (including my interviewing skills– thank God). The publication has gone through many renovations, staff members and editors-in-chief. Each year, the publication strove to be better than the previous years. I found that as Edge grew and strove for greatness, so did I. I worked on my writing and eventually became the assignment editor for the magazine, a position I still hold to this day.
I’ve attended so many amazing opportunities and met countless unique individuals that I wouldn’t have otherwise encountered thanks to Edge. From interviewing the owner of the Gannon Cat to attending a campus glow party, Edge has helped me make colorful and worthwhile college memories. I can say wholeheartedly that my college experience would not have been nearly as enjoyable if I didn’t have these weekly articles to complete, forcing me out of my shell.
There’s a lot I’ll miss about Gannon, but I’ll miss spending my mornings in the drafty basement of the admissions building the most. I’ll miss the panic of submitting an article 15 minutes before it was due (sorry Rachel), cracking jokes with fellow staffers Aaron and Adam during office hours, and the texts from my mom saying, “When does your next piece publish? xoxo, mom.”
Most importantly, I’ll miss writing for you, dear readers. Thanks for providing me with an outlet to grow all four years. Thank you for reading, tweeting, liking and sharing each feature, no matter how tragic it is.
There’s another quote from that Tame Impala song that I like. I like it so much, in fact, that I chose to decorate my graduation cap with it: “There is a world out there and it’s calling my name/ And it’s calling yours too.” Thanks for sticking with me for these past four years, my lovely friends. I can’t wait to see where the world takes us next.
