My time as an active Buff is nearing its end. My experience has been stocked with the knowledge to go forward, relationships that will stay with me forever and branded memories in my mind. You know, the usual sappy memories when you’re about to graduate.

For six years now, I’ve been actively and inactively running the marathon, my collegiate career. Through all of the hardships and setbacks, the end is finally in sight. I allowed myself to exist in my schoolings some of the time. Thankfully, I found equal and more significant amounts of courage and determination to muscle through and make the most of my time.

After finishing at Amarillo College in 2018, I transferred here to WTAMU. I felt alien to this campus, even though I’ve lived in Canyon my whole life. I wasn’t sure what to expect, “Surely anyone I know would have graduated already, right?” Luckily, on the first day of classes, I ran into some old friends from high school and became integrated into their group. Voila, and I’m here today to say that day set me up for a wonderful experience at WTAMU.

At first, I didn’t think I would involve myself in too many organizations or clubs, but that changed almost immediately. Though I wasn’t an official member, my friends introduced me to KWTS and, eventually, The Prairie News and 1910PR. These organizations filled my time, work and knowledge that I will take with me wherever I end up. In time, I became more active in these groups and took advantage of every opportunity presented to me. As Randy Ray would say, “Dig in!”

Most of my time has been spent at The Prairie News if my writing this article hasn’t made that fairly clear. Here, I’ve explored a different avenue of my communication studies, journalism. This skill leads to different ways of learning, such as public speaking, interviewing and creative problem-solving. I can’t count how many times the rest of the team and I have had to develop unorthodox solutions on the fly. How many times I’ve misused the Oxford comma, and how now I refuse to use it entirely. The friendships I’ve developed in the newsroom are lifelong, and I will always be up for some Joe Taco “staff meetings” to catch up.

As Tony Stark said, “part of the journey is the end.” Spoiler alert if you haven’t seen “Endgame.” It’s been out for over a year now, so you’re bound to know what I mean. Oh well. My next step as a Buff is that of an alumnus. Homecoming will mean something different as I go off on my own. How will everything have changed in the meantime?

I look forward to that time. There’s so much ahead of me, and I look forward to facing it.

Now experiencing the fear of the unknown, the “what is next” phase of my life, I go boldly into the world. Congratulations to my fellow graduates. I’ll see you all out there.