I thought about it for a while. Knew it was coming. I anticipated being sentimental, ready to cry. I'm not. I'm ready to be done, graduate, get a job and fly away from my protected little student newsroom.
It has taught me a lot. I've learned everything I know about journalism here. Everything that was taught by theory in classrooms was either reinforced or practiced here. The SPJ code of ethics became not a theory, but a practical guide. It's where controversy, stress, breaking news, deadlines, deaths, argument and office politics pile up into one environment and break you into a better editor.
I will never regret taking this job. I feel like I'm part of something big. I run into people and they recognize my name, tell me about the times when they were the editor. I love the stories, the communities and, mostly, my coworkers. But now I'm ready. I grew up here. This was my college experience: Not classrooms and socializing on quads, but yelling loudly about awful leads, good headlines, and ridiculous wordplay. I gained connections, clips, experience that brought me to jobs and internships that will propel me further.
But it's time to go. I've outgrown my pond; learned what I could and must go out into a much faster, crueler, more politically correct work environment and start working my way up there.
I'm ready for what comes. Bye Maine Campus, I love you.
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