End of an era

On September 23, 2008, just four days after I had moved into Nosker house, I was assigned a 'trial shoot' for The Lantern and if it went well, I would be given another assignment. Thinking back, the nerves were out of control, I had shot for a local newspaper that published weekly, the idea of something I take today being in print tomorrow was awesome.


This was printed on the first day of classes and we got copies of The Lantern in the lobby of my dorm. I remember running downstairs like it was Christmas morning. People at high school told me that it would be impossible to take pictures for the school paper at Ohio State. Holding that paper in my hands (within my first week of being on campus) felt amazing.

Photo property of The Lantern

Fast forward nine quarters. I can't imagine life without The Lantern, the amazing friends I've made and experiences I've had can't be summed in words, it's been my fraternity. Working at it for that long there has been a lot of new faces and times when I was unsure of how the new quarter was going to go. It is a big testament to what students with a common goal can do when they come together. There have been better quarters than others, but there hasn't been a day when it wasn't produced. The quality has increased, with this current quarter running away with the title of best.

As I walked out of the newsroom for the last time tonight, my body couldn't decide what emotion to go with. I wasn't sad, because it's has given me some of the most amazing things of my life (and it's not dying), I wasn't happy because it has been my life, and I'm going to miss the brotherhood-nature of the newsroom. I gave my best friend, Zack Meisel, a hug and walked out. In my mind the lights faded to black like they would in a movie, so we're going to disregard the fact that there were still people in the newsroom.

I would really like to thank everyone who has had anything to do with my life at The Lantern. From family to friends, reporters to co-workers, people who read the paper and visit online, thank you. I couldn't be happier to be a Buckeye.