I have probably rewritten my introduction at least five times, trying to figure out how to express gratitude for the trials and tribulations which the four walls of Witherspoon have given me.

Student Media’s print suite has seen me at my best, knowing I had successfully led a team of great people, and at my worst, when I wasn’t sure if I could handle it all.

In this building, I learned many lessons.

In this building, the clock struck midnight, and I turned 21 while being told someone else should lead the publication.

In this building, I stood on tables trying to get the right angle for a photo.

In this building, I met the person I expect to marry — somewhere in a five-year plan that is probably written on a random index card I’ve lost.

In this building, I’ve hired people.

In this building, I’ve fired them too.

In this building, I got so frustrated with Google Sheets that I decided to learn Python and code us a publication management program instead.

In this building, I was a photographer, a videographer, a Video Editor, a writer, a Managing Editor, an interim Design Editor and a graphic designer.

Most importantly, in this building, I got to meet some of the most influential people in my life who made it all worth it, and be an absolute troll to those who thought I couldn’t do it. That being said, I think I have some thank you notes due. 

Charlie,

Neither of us would have ever known what we were starting back in fifth grade. You were my first real friend I made after switching schools and you’re the reason I ended up in Student Media nearly ten years later.

During middle school and high school, we hadn’t been around each other much, but the chance to reconnect in Calculus II here at NC State is one I’m so glad I took. 

“You should join me at the photo meeting. You get paid to go to basketball games and take photos.” 

That one invite, that one decision to go, changed everything: the people, the lessons, the late nights and the stories I’ll be telling for the rest of my life. You didn’t just introduce me to Student Media. You introduced me to a new chapter of my life. I really can’t thank you enough for that, but I’ll spend a long time trying to.

—

Isaac,

Because I said yes to Charlie, I got lucky enough to meet you, and I didn’t realize how much that would change me. I’ll never forget seeing that mischievous smile peek over the half-wall and hear,

“Hey, if you ever get tired of photo, come join video.”

I had never touched video before. I had no idea what I was doing. But you walked me through it, step-by-step, like it was obvious I belonged there, even when I wasn’t convinced yet.

When I think about you, I think about standing outside of Mitch’s Tavern, watching the Sweet 16 then running to the Belltower like nothing else mattered. I think about the long nights in Talley talking about anything imaginable. I think about all of the times you reminded me to have courage, when I was faced with leading a section I had little experience in.

Above all else, I think about what you taught me.

You taught me how to lead with kindness, with patience and with intention. And you taught me that everything happens for a reason. You reminded me that there’s a plan, even when it doesn’t make sense yet.

Because of you, I’ll carry these lessons with me, long after this place.

—

Jakob,

Because of the plan I didn’t fully understand, but chose to trust, I ended up working alongside you. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner in crime. 

My favorite thing about us is that no one believes me when I say I wasn’t your biggest fan at first. And honestly, I think that says everything about what we’ve become. Somewhere along the way, that skepticism turned into one of the strongest working relationships, and friendships, I’ve had here.

With no guidance, no real support and no clear roadmap, we rebuilt an entire video section from the ground up. That doesn’t happen without trust. And it definitely doesn’t happen without you.

I don’t say this lightly: I couldn’t have done this without you.

—

Lucy,

Because of the whirlwind I walked into with the video section, I had the chance to cross paths with you. 

And if there is anyone who deserves the most credit for those I couldn’t have done this without, it is undoubtedly you.

You’ve been there for every late night, everytime I said “I’ll be home soon” which turned into hours, every design crisis that nearly brought me to my knees. You’ve seen me at my worst — stressed, overwhelmed and almost manic — and you never made me feel like I was too much in those moments.

You made sure I ate when I forgot. You made me take breaks and do your little “volcanoes.” You reminded me every single day that what I was doing mattered, even when I couldn’t see it myself.

You’ve been my biggest supporter, but more than that, you’ve been steady. Constant. Someone I could rely on no matter what this place threw at me.

I started at Technician with you as an editor and I get to leave it with you still by my side.

I love you, Lucy!

–

Colby,

Because of the patience and compassion Lucy showed me, I created space in my heart to take a chance on you.

On my very first video assignment, I quickly decided I didn’t like you. I hoped I would never see you again.

I don’t think I have ever been more wrong in my life.

You asked if I was going to send you content for live tweets like Isaac. I said no, fully pretending I had better things to do, when in reality, I just didn’t know how. To which you followed up with, “Do you know who I am?”

I responded no, to which you explained you have been hired as the new Sports Editor. This was a fact I could not have given two shits about.

Fast forward to Vol. 105, what started as running into you at the gym, turned into workouts together, dinners, random store trips and whatever else I decided you were coming with me to that day. And for some reason, you kept showing up.

Somewhere along the way, you became one of my best friends. You have been a friend who doesn’t let me give up. You taught me to not let little things get to me. You taught me to keep my head up.

—

Skye,

Because I learned from Colby to keep my head up, I took the jump from the visual section to working alongside an incredible Editor-in-Chief. 

We stepped into these roles with a plan. A plan to change the culture of Technician. A plan to lead with kindness and compassion, instead of expecting respect just because we held titles. To make every second of this job worth it for those on our team.

And I think we did a pretty damn good job.

I take pride in the fact that when we tell everyone they can leave at the end of the night, they don’t.

In the past, we all sat around waiting for the night to end. And now they won’t leave. Not because they have to stay, but because they want to. Because they like it here. And because we took an opportunity to connect with those who create this publication and let them all know how important they are.

We knew that the job would be hard, we knew it would kick us when we were down. And then it proceeded to be even harder and kick us even more. Every proverbial bump, bruise and scratch that journalism gave us was worth it, because I did it alongside you.

The hottest commodity an establishment could have is a team where Skye Crawford and Nicole Bharrat worked together. And if I ever have the opportunity to work on a team with you again, I would take it. Zero hesitation.

Thank you Skye, and I can’t wait to do it again.