This whole semester, as graduation has been approaching, I knew that saying goodbye to my college experience — and quite frankly, the last five years of my life — were going to be ridiculously difficult. With that being said, knowing my time at the Northern Star is basically over is heartbreaking. 

However, all great things must come to an end, which makes for difficult goodbyes.

I joined the Northern Star over three years ago as an opinion columnist. Then, I worked my way up and have held roles such as Senior Opinion Columnist, Assistant News Editor, News Editor, Opinion Editor and Assistant Opinion Editor. Now, I’m ending my Northern Star experience as a lifestyle writer, which has been the absolute best.

Throughout my time in multiple sections, I have been able to write about a variety of topics, from my very first piece being about scary movies being overrated to my most recent being a review of Noah Kahan’s newest album. I have grown so much both as a writer and as a journalist.

There have been times when being part of the Northern Star, particularly when I was an editor, was stressful, especially with being involved in a sorority and other organizations. However, I enjoyed the stress and wouldn’t trade it for the world.

I owe so much of my gratitude to the Northern Star. I had entered the Star as a middle-level education major with the goal of teaching middle school social studies. I’m now leaving the Star as an English major with three minors, including journalism. 

The Northern Star not only provided me with skills that I will use in my future career, but also helped me choose my future career during my midlife crisis and major switch. I had always told myself since Kindergarten that I was going to be a teacher, so when I decided to switch majors, I didn’t know what I was going to switch to, and being involved with the Star helped me truly realize my passion and interests.

The Northern Star reignited my love and passion for journalism. I had previously been part of the yearbook class and club in high school and had a pretty traumatic experience with it. Never did I ever think I would do anything journalism-related again, and now my goal post-college is to pursue journalism as a career.

There are people I would like to thank who have made my Northern Star experience unforgettable.

Thank you to Joey Trella for hiring me as an opinion columnist all those years ago. I’m honored to have gotten the opportunity to work under you and I hope I made you proud.

Thank you to all of the staff members that I’ve had the pleasure of working with. There are way too many names to list everyone individually, but you’re all amazing.

More specifically, to all of the six editor-in-chief’s I have worked under, you all have helped make the Northern Star what it is today. Thank you to Madelaine Vikse, Nick Glover, Angelina Padilla-Tompkins, Olivia Zapf, Brynn Krug and Edison Miller for all of the support and guidance, particularly when I was in editor positions. 

In addition, thank you to Bridgette Fox for all of your support and encouragement, not just at the Northern Star, but even just in life. You’re the best, and I appreciate everything.

In addition, the Star has brought me some of the most amazing friendships that I know will last a lifetime. Although some of these people have come and gone from the Northern Star, they will always be part of this amazing organization. Shoutout to Kahlil Kambui, Skyler Kisellus, Tim Dodge, Rachael Swinson, Lucy Atkinson and Gabby Crabtree for being some of my closest friends from the Northern Star. I appreciate you all and will miss you all so much.

In addition, thank you to Maria Krull and Shelley Hendricks for all of the support and for being mentors to me. I look up to you two so much. Thank you for the guidance and support, and even just for being a listening ear whenever I needed advice, to rant or even just to talk. I will miss our chats about Northern Star things, but even just about life. 

Shoutout to next semester’s editor-in-chief and managing editor, respectively: Totus Tuus Keely and Sofia Didenko. Both of you have been a pleasure to know and work with throughout my time at the Northern Star. I know you two will do a great job of running the Northern Star next semester, and I can’t wait to see everything you both accomplish. 

For the future staff currently at the Northern Star, and for anyone who is considering joining the Northern Star, I highly recommend it. You’ll make some of the most amazing connections with people and some of the best friendships that will last a lifetime.

Thank you, Northern Star, for the memories! This was one of the highlights of my college experience and something I’ll forever hold near and dear to my heart. Emily Beebe, officially signing out.