I walked into 744 Ostrom Avenue on January 25, 2013, determined to become a staff writer. Four hundred-fifty-seven days later, on April 29, 2014, I will have walked out of 744 Ostrom Avenue as a former assistant news editor, former assistant feature editor and former opinions editor.

During the 10,000+ hours I’ve spent on staff at The Daily Orange, half of it was spent goofing around and the other half was spent frustrated at how much work I had taken on.

To everyone at the DO I left out: There’s a place off Ostrom Avenue, where I used to sit and talk with you, we were both in-house and it felt so right, SLEEPING ALL DAY, STAYING UP ALL NIGHT.

Casey and Chase: Other than my parents, no one has put up with me being an a**hole as much as you two have. Thanks for dealing with my insufferableness.

Joe Infantino: It’s a shame you couldn’t have stayed; we were onto something really great. Domo arigato mister Joeboto.

Lara: You turned a section that was in severe turmoil into one of the best things going in this paper. You’ll do great as EIC.

Erik: I’m honored that you were the one to replace me. You are the definition of working hard and staying humble, and I hope I can be half the storyteller you are one day.

Spencer: KILLA SQUAD FOREVER. I can always count on you when I want to be ratchet as f*ck. We outchea on deez STREETS brotha.

Margaret Lin: I’m passing on my position of Asian Club President down to you. Follow in my footsteps as Asian Club President by stopping your self-doubt and growing a pair. Love, your tiger brother.

Josh Romero: Wish you were in-house sooner; you’re definitely the most fun person to work with this semester. Stay based.

Sports: MEDIA CUP 2014, CARRIER DOME, 52-37. WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, MY FRIENDS. NEVER FORGET.

Ankur: Think about it, who are the five greatest presentation directors of all time? ANKUR, ANKUR, ANKUR, ANKUR and ANKUR, because he designs HOT FIRE. I’m an Ankur Patankar guy.

Lizzie: The modificationtions to my pages will never be the same without your insyte and eye for dezign. I hope you get a federail grant for you tailents and spelling abilities. (PS: Jizzie Fart is hilarious, accept it.)

Design Team: I’m so happy to have been a part of this team as Op-Editor. DESIGNERS RULE!

Brett: Bread, I really wish I could’ve been an assistant with you. The sh*tty puns would’ve been non-stop.

Jacob: Double down on what I wrote for Brett. You put da newsteam on YA BACK DOE … JACOB PRAMUK … ONE OF THE HARDEST HITTING EDITORS IN THE LEAGUE…

Meredith: You are the older sister I’ve always needed and never had. Thank you for keeping me in line and making sure I don’t act completely irrational — which I tend to do a lot. From a news ninja to his news babushka, you’ve got the eye of the tiger.

Jessica: There aren’t many people I consider true journalists. You’ve got the instinct, you’ve got the talent and you’ve got the brains. I look forward to seeing The Daily Orange become a NEWSpaper again under your leadership.

Nicki: You’ve consistently made my life easier by being the easiest writer I read with. Thank you for being the one constant in my two semesters of editing many poorly-written articles.

Seegz: #FreeShinobi

Maggie: The day you stepped up and became an assistant news editor was the day The Daily Orange stopped being my personal hell. Come back from France faster, because we need a third wheel fom IHOP again. (Also, Cleveland still sucks.)

Annie: It doesn’t matter if we’re in Syracuse, Buffalo, Brooklyn or Austin, I’ll always be laughing my ass off as long as I’m with you. All those hours of grief, stress and work at The Daily Orange were all worth it because I never would have met you without them. I came in-house for the people more than I did for the work, and you are without a doubt my favorite person I’ve met. I can’t wait to spend my senior year with you.

Mom and Dad: You two will probably never read this, unless I translate it for you. I know I don’t show it much, and I’ve probably been a really bratty kid for the last 20 years, but thank you so much for everything. Leaving your home country wasn’t easy, and there were a lot of sacrifices you both went through for me, and I wish I could thank you both every day for all you’ve done. I hope I’m making you two proud.

I think I’m forgetting somebody, but I only have 20 words left and I might go over the lim—

Published on April 29, 2014 at 5:09 am