Why hello again there lede , I’m going to screw you up yet again. I’ve never really been all that great at ledes , and if you don’t believe me, ask our former advisor Tyler Dukes.

What I do know is that my entire college career at N.C. State—albeit only two years were spent at State—and the rest of my life have been shaped by what goes on in a small office on the third floor of Witherspoon.

It’s all finally hitting me as I begin to write my farewell column that I will no longer be a student here. I spent my elementary and middle school years dreaming of, and high school years working toward, becoming a student at N.C. State, and now it’s all over. I haven’t even received my diploma yet and I already miss being a student at State.

Farewell columns are typically spent reflecting on what you did during your college career or trying to be funny while getting soppy at the end, and, to be honest, that’s probably what this will end up being.

Memories are something that can never be taken away from you for as long as you live, and the memories that I’ve made here at State, as both a student and a member of student media, will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Whether it was spray-painting the free expression tunnel for the first time, reading hate mail and comments about my columns, tailgating at Carter-Finley and drinking so much that I only remember the fourth quarter, or visiting New York for the first time for spring break, I will never forget my college experience.

Hell, just this semester itself was crazy. I not only get to graduate in 15 days, but just two months ago today I said “I do” to the woman that I will spend the rest of my life with, Heather Marslender Smith.

The first few months for me at the Technician were very hazy, but helped me to learn how to approach new writers who might be thrown in too quickly to the world of journalism. I have had the pleasure of working with a number of great editors who came before me and helped me to hopefully leave an impression on those who are working at the paper now.

Now here starts my list of thank yous to each and every person who helped me get to this point. Thank you, first and foremost, to former sports editor Kate Schefte . Kate was a huge help to me when I started out and showed trust in me enough to allow my first article that I ever wrote to be printed. I’m sorry we didn’t tell you, Martha. On that same note, I want to say thank you to Tyler Everett and Taylor Barbour for helping me along when I didn’t understand things that I harp on new writers about every day. Learning how to teach new editors like Josh Hyatt and Sean Fairholm has not only made the job more fun, but has taught me how to improve my writing.

Since this is my final bow before the curtains close on my college career, I want to thank you, the students, while I still can. I’ve loved every comment and have enjoyed every conversation I’ve had with readers who recognize me from my mug shot. So I want to finish with this: Thank you for anything and everything you’ve ever said or thought about me, and I promise—you will see me again soon.