Column | Moving on up

Goodbyes have never been very hard for me. Whether it’s saying goodbye to friends after a night out or saying goodbye to a large chapter of my life, I tend to look forward rather than dwell on the past. I’ve always mended the aches of time passing with the belief that things can only go up from here — every door that closes opens five new ones, and anything that is meant to be will be. But, even if leaving isn’t hard, I am certain that when I look back on the memories I’ve made at The Pitt News, it will be with a nostalgic joy. 

When I came to Pitt as an English literature major, all I knew was I loved books. Certainly, no one takes on an English major because they have aspirations for a six-figure career. Instead, I focused on books because they gave me the ability to read so deeply into someone else’s lived experience and discover how different those experiences could be. Even though reading is inherently quite an isolating activity, it serves as a way to connect with the world and, most importantly, the people around us. I would read my life away if I could, trust me—but as an extroverted college student, I needed to find another outlet for my love for people. It wasn’t until my sophomore year when I became a staff writer on the news desk at TPN that I finally found my place at Pitt. 

When I first walked into The Pitt News office on the fourth floor of the William Pitt Union, the first thing I noticed was the vast array of things — maybe even trash, to some — that hung around the room. Ornaments and fairy lights that dangle from the ceiling year-round, five clocks that don’t match up, printed out memes, Swagrid, coloring pages, drawings and other miscellaneous items. Amid the random items, though, it was clear that I’d fit in at TPN, signaled through the pride flags hanging around the office, group pictures of editors pasted along the walls and above all, the notorious circle-shaped editing desk that we still sit at every single week. From the very beginning, TPN has been a place of joy, chaos, fun and above all, humanity. 

I remember sending my first TPN article to everyone I know. I texted my parents, my friends, my extended family I hadn’t talked to in months and even my old co-workers who hadn’t heard from me since high school, “I’m a published author! I’m a journalist!” But it was more than just a byline or having my name come up during a Google search. It was proof that I belonged somewhere. Sure, I was writing and publishing things that represented a larger organization. But behind that and every other future byline was collaboration — with my sources, with people I randomly approached on the street to interview, with my co-writers, with my editors and eventually, with my fellow editorial staff on any given production night. 

Becoming an editor at TPN was probably the most defining feature of my college career. Sitting at the editorial desk over the past three years, debating philosophical questions with fellow editors, editing hundreds of news stories and learning about the stories of not just my writers, but the entire college campus, truly reshaped how I view the world around me. I’ve learned that each person is just that — a person with their own pasts, thoughts and perspectives. 

Though maybe I’ve found that journalism isn’t the career path for me, I can genuinely say that I am walking away from TPN with a newfound appreciation for the human experience. There are more ways to engage with people than just talking to them or even reading about them—it’s truly all about connecting with them. Finding ways to make the people you’re talking to feel comfortable, seen and heard. Figuring out ways to throw in some easy humor. Searching for a way to share a smile. And, of course, knowing how to write a perfect email in the blink of an eye — seriously, people, outreach is important! But, the throughline of it all — journalism, literature and humanity — is connecting with each other. And that’s what I’m taking with me from TPN. 

To my news desk — yes, I’m going to refer to it as mine because it means something so special to me and because you all so gratefully voted me as “Best Boss” — I believe in each and every one of you. Through it all — whether it’s after the absolutely heartbreaking 2024 election results, a hungover Sunday, a meeting where I’m bringing snacks or just a regular week where I spend the full hour meeting goofing around — I have felt right at home with the news desk. To my fellow news editors, including Spencer Levering, Abby Lipold, Kyra McCague, Naomi Weiss and Amanda Yu, thank you for being my shoulders to lean on during late-night productions where I fell asleep before the night was truly over. To Naomi, Sarah George and Madeline Ward, the news desk could not be in better hands next year. Even when Pitt and our college newspaper are far in my past, each and every one of you will always be a part of who I am. I am taking away lessons that I’ve learned from my role as news editor that would not have been possible without working with each of you.

Even despite the inevitability of time passing and things ending, closing my chapter at The Pitt News and at Pitt is bittersweet. Because of the time I’ve spent here, I’ve learned how to speak for others and, in turn, stand up for myself. At the same time, I’ve learned how to be vulnerable, how to trust my coworkers and how to find value in perspectives that differ from my own. I’ve also truly seen how important it is to remain kind, to spread joy and to laugh, regardless of how impossible it may seem. I can guarantee that almost all of these lessons would not have been learned if it had not been for my time spent at TPN. So, even though I may not be leaving this organization with tears in my eyes, I am leaving with my heart full. To everyone I’ve met here through interviews, writing and editing, thank you for shaping who I am and who I will continue to become.