What a year it has been. I’m a lot more emotional than I thought I was going to be, if I’m honest. In the middle of this semester, I was so exhausted and done with being in house. I couldn’t wait to get out. But now here I am, and I really do not want to leave. On the last day of production (a WILD one, at that) I lingered in the house around two hours later than I needed to be there. We should be proud of everything we’ve done.

As a transfer student from the opposite coast, it was hard to find people that I meshed with. But 744 gave me a house full of them.

Eva and Karleigh: Thank you guys for somehow making sense of our crazy graphic pitches.

Ghael: I can’t wait to hear you on NPR someday. Thank you for bringing something amazing to the DO.

Design team Fall 2019: You guys are absurdly talented for patching this paper together, especially this last week with stories developing until 3 a.m. I have so much respect for all of you.

Sports Fall 2019: Y’all are so loud. But also talented. Great job this semester. P.S., Kill it in NYC, KJ.

Brittany: You are going to kill it as op editor! Thank you for always spilling tea, and thank you for many drunk hugs at the Hotbox. Here’s to many more.

Diana: You never fail to make me laugh! You are so funny and supportive and I am so happy we got to be in house at the same time. Great job this semester, and don’t change because you’re amazing.

Aro: Thank you for being a constant source of laughter and fun in digital. You are genuinely funny and kind and I’m grateful to have met you.

Haley and Leff: Thank you both for your patience as a management team! Especially during a crazy move with the campus in chaos, you both held it together so well. Thank you for all you’ve done for the 2019-2020 staff.

Richard: I wish I got to know you a little better. Don’t be afraid to speak up. Good luck as digital next semester, you’re going to be great.

Gillian: You are an absolute ray of sunshine. Thank you for all of your late nights and hard work.

Kennedy: You are an amazing human bean. Thank you so much for always keeping it positive in the newsroom. Miss you and love you lots.

Café Kubal staff: I love y’all. Thank you for the free caffeine, not so much for the 6 a.m. shifts.

Corey and Elizabeth: You are both so amazing and talented! Your photo skills have been a huge asset to the DO. You’re so sweet and I’m so happy I got to work with you both.

Matthew, Madison and Sarah Turner: I’m so excited to actually get to see you guys next semester.

Amy: You are so smart and talented! Thank you for holding digital together like glue this semester. You always manage to put a smile on my face and I am so glad I got the chance to work with you. You’re going to kill it as pulp editor.

Kevin: Thank you for making digital such a fun and inviting place to be. I always knew I could go downstairs and hang out with you guys in the digital room if I wanted a break. See you at flip.

Gabe: You are an absolute dork, and I cannot imagine the Daily Orange without you. Thank you for being by my side starting from covering the SA beat all the way to the end. Love you man. Also, if I don’t get at least 10 pictures of you with koalas when you’re in Australia, I will be mad.

India: I will meet your 300 animals one day. Also, we are gonna get buff next semester! Walk into the new house and be swole as heck. Get ready for the best work out of your LIFE. P.S., can’t wait to read your amazing future novel. You have been so incredible and so easy to work with the past two semesters.

Emma: You are so amazing and set the bar so high for everyone. You have done so much and changed so much since we started as baby copy editors. You are one of the most brilliant and tenacious people I have ever met and I cannot wait to see what you do. Thank you for becoming one of my best friends.

Casey: Thank you for a seamless semester, and thank you for being one of my best friends. You have held it together with incredible grace these past few months, even through some absolutely crazy sh*t. Please take care of yourself while you’re digital editor. You are always allowed to come to my house and nap on my couch with me. I love you, man.

Jack: Thank you for always catching me mid-mental breakdown. I really don’t know how I’m going to survive the next semester without you. You’re my best friend and I love you forever. I’ll meet you back in California soon enough. We’ll live the dream.

Colleen: You my best friend, the best roommate I have ever had and someone who I can always rely on. It is so hard for me to think about what it is going to be like to walk into our apartment next semester and not see you there. Thank you, also, for bringing Rocky into our lives, because she always makes me laugh. I love you SO much and I know you’re going to do amazing things in Houston because you are incredibly talented, beautiful and amazing. I cannot wait to see what you do.

Finally, thank you all for calling me Nat, not Natalie.

Published on December 5, 2019 at 2:05 am

Contact Natalie: nrrubiol@syr.edu