Some words have the power to make us weak at the knees.

For me, one of those words is “goodbye.”

While I have been imagining writing my “goodbye” column for months now, it has not been an easy task, and one I have long put off.

Because along with saying goodbye to you, my readers, I am also saying goodbye to my undergraduate career at Kent State.

I am saying goodbye to colleagues at the Daily Kent Stater, past and present, many of whom I have enjoyed working with, some of whom have made decisions that have filled me with anger, and some whom have made decisions that I applaud and am immensely proud of.

I am saying goodbye to those faculty members who have always supported me and what I hope to achieve in my life, and goodbye to those faculty members who didn’t, and made me question my career choice more than once.

I am saying goodbye to friends I have made while at Kent State – some of whom I’m sure I’ll stay in touch with, some of whom I may never see again.

But most of all, I am saying goodbye to a chapter in my life that has been thrilling and fearsome, exciting and miserable, challenging and tiring, but most of all, a chapter that has helped shaped the person I am today.

I know when I walk across that stage May 12, I won’t just be receiving a bachelor’s of science in news. I will be receiving time spent on countless study sessions, projects, exams and homework assignments, all the “fun” I’ve sacrificed and a glimpse back at what could have been, all the paths I didn’t choose, and a look forward at the one I did.

I will be receiving a piece of myself back – from every ending, a new beginning.

To my parents, Greg and Carol, and my little brother, Rowan: Without you, I could never have achieved half of what I have today. Thank you for this, and for so much more. I love you.

To my friends, both scholastic and otherwise: Thank you for understanding that sometimes a test really can make you cry, and for celebrating all my achievements with me. It’s an honor to know you all.

To my favorite faculty members (particularly Pam Tabar and Barb Hipsman): For always believing in me, even when I didn’t really believe in myself – I thank you. You have made a tough major somewhat more bearable, and a crazy career choice seem not so crazy after all.

To my Daily Kent Stater “homies”: It’s been a pleasure working with you all – nothing but the best for the future, which I know will be bright for many of you.

And last, but not least, to my Sam: You may not have been there since the beginning, but I’m truly glad you were here at the end. Thanks for being there when it mattered most – I love you more than you may ever know.

And to you, my very important readers: Thank you all for allowing me to grace the pages of the Daily Kent Stater for as long as I have. Whether it was writing news, features or columns, I’m grateful to you all for reading – I hope I have helped at least one person through something I’ve written. If not, I hope I have pissed some of you off significantly enough to do something about it.

To you all, I say goodbye and leave you with this:

Do not dwell in the past. Make the most of the present, for we are never guaranteed the future. Hamba kahle.

Shelley Blundell is a history graduate, a graduating magazine journalism major and columnist for the Daily Kent Stater. She wishes all her readers a wonderful summer. Contact her at [email protected].