Despite majoring in journalism, it’s hard to find the right words to sum up my time at Penn State. Partly because I’ve been putting off writing this since it feels like the official beginning of the end.

To be honest, I did not always picture myself here. In high school, I never dreamed of going to college, so I didn’t have a dream school. I grew up an athlete. I always loved sports, and I knew I always loved storytelling, and somehow, that combination led me to Penn State. I didn’t know what to expect, but I took a chance, and it turned out to be the best decision I ever made.

I remember sitting in my dorm at Tener Hall in August 2021 when I got an email from Bob Martin that Onward State was hiring. I did not come from a Penn State family, so I had no idea what to expect. I had never been to a White Out and didn’t know what THON really was. I was just hoping to find my place.

At my interview, I was asked, “If you could be any dinosaur, which would you be and why?” I panicked and said velociraptor because it was the only one I could think of, thanks to my favorite movie, “Step Brothers.”

Onward State was the first organization I joined, and I am proud to be a part of the blog four years later. Being a photographer for OS has given me so many incredible opportunities that I will always be thankful for. I got to shoot concerts like Swae Lee, Kane Brown, and KYLE, meet some childhood favorites like Corbin Bleu and Ross Lynch, and cover Penn State Athletics from behind my camera.

I spent the last four years juggling internships, clubs, jobs, and everything in between. I kept myself busy, always thinking about what was next and chasing the “real world” like it was the finish line. But now that it’s almost here, I wish I had just one more semester. One more football game. One more THON. One more bar crawl.

As cheesy as it sounds, these last four years have been the time of my life, and I cannot believe how quickly it flew by.

I will be graduating with a degree in broadcast journalism, a minor in sports studies, and a certificate in sports journalism, and in the top 10% of my class. I am hopeful and excited to see what post-grad life has in store for me.

I can’t write my senior column without thanking my parents for their love and support. I wouldn’t be where I am without them. And thanks for always bringing Luna (my dog) to visit so she can be a college girl for the weekend. I also have to thank my boyfriend, Nick, for being my No. 1 fan throughout this journey and the last five and a half years. And to the girls of 1421, I’m so lucky to have had such amazing roommates and friends. I love you all.

Although I don’t come from a Penn State family, I’m excited to be starting the legacy. My cousin Juliana will be starting the best four years of her life here in August.

Penn State gave me more than just a degree. It gave me friends and memories to last a lifetime. I’m so thankful that 18-year-old me made the right decision and chose Penn State.

Like my alumni shirt says, “I wish I could go back, not to change anything, but to do it all over again!”

For the blog, always.