A Bittersweet Goodbye

After three years, six semesters, over 120 stories, approximately 60,000 words, and countless weekly meetings it is my time to say goodbye to The Talon. A true love, hate relationship full of headaches and deadlines, yet full of laughter, love, and friendship. For every interview I struggled to track down there was a moment within the newsroom that made me think, “This is why I am here.”

I want to thank Dr. Patterson for holding me to a higher standard and pushing me to expand my comfort zones. I was terrified of Patterson the first time I met him and now, four years later and after what feels like thousands of classes, I am still terrified of that awesome man. 

I also want to recognize the rest of the seniors whom I have spent years with inside The Talon. Dominic, Rachel, and Brandon, It was an interesting few years to say the least and I hope I made an impact on your lives just as you made on mine. 

I have seen multiple regimes come and go with five different editors-in-chief. All of these carried their own energy and feel, but had a real sense of comradery that is not found often. I consider myself the luckiest guy on campus being a part of two separate teams; baseball and The Talon. So to the youngins, keep at it. Stick with it and take The Talon to new heights, but most importantly do not take the people in that room for granted.

Sitting here, writing my farewell article, feels so surreal thinking back to sitting at the desk closest to the door in my first Wednesday meeting being scared to death when I realized I actually had to interview a stranger for my articles. I realize just how far I have come not only in my writing, reporting, and journalism; but as a man. The Talon matured me more than anything in my four years at Oklahoma Christian, and for that I am so thankful.

I thought I would be happy to be writing my final article, and I am, but saying goodbye truly is a bittersweet feeling. I will not miss writing the articles themselves, but the people, the newsroom, and the meetings are all something that I will cherish. 

The Talon is so much more than a student-run newspaper. It is a people. And that is what will stick with me through the rest of my life.

So goodbye Talon. What an annoying, fun, anxious, amazing, and memorable three years.