Nine semesters full of experiences and growth that forever changed this writer have ended.

But whether the time frame it took me to finally move on from NIU is sad or not, I have yet to decide.

For those of you who have been at NIU for a few years, I hope you read on and let me know if what I have seen fits your beliefs of NIU.

And for those who are still getting their feet wet on campus, please take some time to reflect on what I write about here today.

But before I go on to leave you my final comments as a sports reporter for the Northern Star, I want to thank you.

You see, my final question for NIU running back Garrett Wolfe the other day was, “If you could say anything to NIU, what would it be?”

Garrett responded with, “I have to thank the fans for their support throughout my career. It’s no fun playing if no one is in the stands to watch. That’s really big for me.”

The same holds true for myself.

I will be the first to admit we make our fair share of mistakes on these very pages. And just like Wolfe, we are not professionals just yet, but aspiring journalists.

However, you continue to read our newspaper day in and day out because you have an interest.

Thus, I want to thank you for your loyal readership, and the feedback you provide to help make our newspaper better.

By writing for the Star, as I continued to follow NIU athletics, I learned a lot about the reality of not being a “big school.”

Being a student of NIU, I hope you realize you are attending an institution that asks administrators, professors and coaches to do more than they are compensated for.

Of course, as students, we are being asked to do the same. But I would also like you to realize something about our athletics program.

College athletics is not all it’s made up to be.

Athletes wake up at 5:30 a.m. to workout or go to meetings. They get home at 3 a.m. from road trips, and had better be in their 8 a.m. class or sprints will be waiting at practice.

And no, you should not pity them. It is their choice to do this. But don’t have the perception athletics is all about this glitz and glamour life.

Having been a student manager for NIU men’s basketball, I had the privilege to see the inner workings of our athletics department.

NIU is on its way up, but it’s you, the students, who will determine how great it can be.

Now, when does my plane leave for San Diego? Go Huskies!