Today marks the end of an era: after three and a half years, my time at The Daily Evergreen has come to an end.

Creating the mint section has been such a wonderful challenge, and I am so happy to have had the opportunity to explore my creativity and work with some really wonderful writers.

As I move on to other things in life, I find myself quite sad. Although far from perfect, the Evergreen has provided a home and family for me while at WSU. It was because of my work with the life section that I learned I wanted to pursue journalism. It was my time as a copy editor that I learned that I enjoyed editing. It was my time as editor-in-chief that I learned I can be a leader.

I have had the opportunity to be in charge of a staff of 50 wildly different individuals, from journalists to computer scientists to artists to enologists. It was hard, but such a privilege.

I will miss the editors, writers and photographers I have spent way too much time with more than I can say. There’s nothing quite like pulling an all-nighter to try and get a paper done after cranking out a sports weekend. I know way more about the female orgasm than I ever thought I would, thanks to the Sex Edition. I know about the inner shenanigans of the university more than I ever thought I would, and I have seen more tears than I ever wished to.

The mint section allowed me to learn all about the different pot shops in the area, and the tattoo shops (all research for work, I swear). I got to play with pets, write about Disney princesses. It was an adventure, to be sure.

There’s nothing quite like going to work with a smile on your face because you know you’ll spend the next nine hours with people you love and who think and jest just like you.

The staff at The Daily Evergreen does amazing work, and I am so proud to have been a part of something so life changing. Thank you for all you’ve done for me, it’s been real.

Jennifer Ladwig is a senior multimedia journalism major from Washougal. She can be contacted at [email protected].