I’ve had this article’s title in mind since my freshman year, when I first started working for the paper. Back then, I’d include a reference to my favorite video game, Destiny, in each and every single one of my articles. I kept a spreadsheet of these references, and knew that I wanted to name my last piece for the paper, thematically, after a piece from the game. During my sophomore year, I even applied for an internship at Bungie, the company that makes Destiny. I agonized over every aspect of that application, every word, every letter, every keystroke. And I got rejected. There were no more references to Destiny in The Hoot after that.

I first joined The Hoot to make friends, and because I’d always liked writing. I made some amazing friends, people who truly brightened my experience at Brandeis. The past editors of this paper have become fragments of the wonderfully woven tapestry that is my life, and I’m so grateful that I got to learn to helm the ship that is The Hoot alongside them. But, regrettably, as most undergraduate students do, my older friends graduated. A mortal sin that I will never forgive them for, truly. I was left running The Hoot, with the help of a diminished supporting cast, removed from the room we’d occupied for years, and thrown into the deep end. But I’d been prepared for this. Starting from the second semester of my first year at Brandeis, I’d run at least two sections of the paper. I was, simultaneously, an editor of the Opinions section, an editor of the Features section and a regular contributor to every section on the paper. At one point, I even wrote 11 articles in a single week. Sure, that number was bolstered a little bit by a small, half-serious article or two, but I like to hold that week as an example of my commitment to this paper. 

Before I even knew it, I was a pillar of The Hoot. This is the 231st article I’ve written for this newspaper, and it’s also my last. I’ve poured my heart and soul into The Hoot, pulling more late nights than I could ever hope to count, even watching the sun come up over one of our production nights. I have, truly, given all I can to this paper. Have I been perfect? No, certainly not. I’ve published articles that contain errors, missed grammar mistakes in my editorial work and faltered as a leader of this institution occasionally. But looking back on my time with The Hoot, I’m filled with pride. I’m proud of the quadruple-digit amount of hours I’ve spent making The Hoot what it is and proud of what I’ve discovered about hard work during my time with this production. Even though the monstrous amount of work The Hoot requires has been, at times, daunting and insurmountable, I’m proud of my time here. I can leave The Hoot, and Brandeis, knowing that I gave my full self to all that I did.

I’d also like to talk about my time at Brandeis beyond The Hoot. Because, even after 230 articles written for Brandeis’ campus newspaper, I have had a full, lovely life. Over the past two years, in particular, I’ve discovered some things I’m truly passionate about. Turns out, I really like Magic: The Gathering. Possibly the nerdiest hobby I could’ve adopted, but I love it nonetheless. I’ve had the genuinely unbelievable opportunity to write about this game professionally for almost two years, seeing my work plastered on a website that I’d be visiting every day anyways. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about those silly pieces of cardboard, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. And, this game has helped me truly embrace my identity. Yes, I am a nerd. But that’s ok! People still like me. I think.

I also found out that I really, really like lifting weights! The way I discovered that is, admittedly, pretty silly. I went to the gym with one of The Hoot’s past editors, who asked me if I could do five plates on the leg press. Wanting to impress him, I said yes. I had never done more than two plates. But, to my surprise (and probably his too), I was able to get a few solid reps with the higher weight. From that day forward, I realized that I wasn’t quite as fragile as I thought I was. I’d say that’s been my biggest takeaway from Brandeis: we’re all so much stronger than we realize. The Hoot, my friends and all of the wonderful things that I’ve had the opportunity to lend a little bit of myself to, have helped me come to that understanding.

I have much more I could talk about, from my passion for ecological research to my appreciation for my time in Germany to the happiness I derive from leading my Dungeons and Dragons campaign. But, I think my point is clear. My time at Brandeis, although it’s now at its end, has been wonderful. I feel fulfilled, I feel content and I feel lucky for having had the past four years woven into my life.

For a long while, whenever someone asked me to describe my feelings on this school, I’d respond with some venom. I’ve had several personal disagreements with the way that Brandeis’ administration has conducted itself, several things that I’ve disliked about Brandeis’ campus and several things about life at college in general that just got under my skin. But, recently, a family friend of mine came to campus and asked me to show them around. They’re considering coming to Brandeis to study economics and wanted my honest thoughts on the school. I hesitated when asked, wanting to give them an honest, genuine answer, and found one: Brandeis’ physical plant leaves much to be desired. Brandeis’ administration makes choices that WILL upset you. But you’re not coming to this school because you’re such a fan of Massell Quad’s dorms or emails from whomever the President is. You’re coming to this school because of the other people that go here. On the whole, Brandeis students are kind, they are inquisitive and they’re the type of people you want to involve in your life. That’s why I, despite all of the aforementioned complaints, have truly and genuinely had a great time at Brandeis. I love my friends. There’s people in this school who brighten my whole day with just their presence, people who I am grateful to have lived with for years, and people whose daily appearances in my life are joyful. To each of you, thank you for you. I love each of you, even if I don’t tell you often enough. And I certainly don’t. None of us do, really.

I have too many people to thank. What a wonderful problem to have. I could list the names of the people who have contributed to my life over the past four years, and fill a full 16-page issue with that alone. But you don’t want to read that, and I don’t want to write it (for fear of leaving someone out). So, to everyone who I’ve been lucky enough to call my friend during my time here, thank you. You’ve helped me become the imperfect, still-growing person I am today. I appreciate each of you more than you know.