By Sonnet Relph
Editorial Writer
I hate goodbyes. So instead, I want to say thank you.
First and foremost, Drew, Sabrina, Tyler, Ethan and Nancy, there is nothing I do that isn’t done without you in mind. I couldn’t have done any of this without your support, love and encouragement. Thank you. You are my dreams realized. I am a success in life regardless of whatever else may happen because I have you. I love you SO much.
Margie Vitale, thanks for believing in me, encouraging me and helping me make good choices about my classes. You are an amazing woman and I am proud to know you and honored to have you as one of my mentors.
Mike, Jill, Donna and Perez, thanks for critiquing my writing and page layouts. Thank you, also, for helping us to make the Ranger and the Current better. It’s been a fun and interesting ride. I’m glad to know you. Thanks for the laughs, the constructive criticism and the frustrations that drove me to push harder and dig deeper. Thank you for your friendship and for all of the things you taught me. Jill thanks for sharing your ideas for editorials and articles. You had some really good ones.
Thank you to each professor who taught me and/or helped me with interviews, surveys and advice on how to write better
material, especially Frances Dorsey, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Don Abel, Dalila Paredes, Briony Foster, Stephanie Jung and Brian Farmer. You made me smile, encouraged me and helped me become a better writer, thinker and artist. I am blessed to have you as my friends.
Thank you to those on the AC administrative staff who assisted me, taught me or invited me to participate in events, especially Ellen R. Green and Heather Atchley. You made me look deeper into myself to find what I really want, need and love. Thank you. I know you all have my back if I ever need you.
Ranger staff, it has been a really interesting experience working with you. Thank you for letting me be your voice. I wish you all the best. Thank you for the opportunities you gave me to learn and grow.
Amanda, Emily, Perla, Vanessa, Bailie and Brandi, thanks for teaching me so much. Thanks for the laughter, for letting me into your personal worlds and for sharing your struggles, hopes and dreams with me.
I hope you each keep pushing to reach the realization of your aspirations. You can do it. I believe in you.
Keep making your voices heard. Keep investigating and never take people at face value. Dig deeper; there is always more to see, learn and do.
I know you can become whatever you want to. Find your voices and speak up, find your ground and stand firm and build a strong force of people who believe in you to support you as you do it.
Your families are already proud of you. Follow your dreams and don’t quit. Take it one day at a time. Life is meant to be lived, not watched. Do what you love and you won’t want to stop.
Vanessa, thanks especially for being big enough to admit your mistakes and fixing them. That’s very mature of you.
Perla and Emily, your positive attitudes will take you far.
Thank you to each individual who allowed me to interview them. Thanks for
reading my editorials and articles. A writer without an audience is like an ocean without waves.
Friends whom I no longer have classes with, thanks. You made my days better, my struggles easier and my sorrows more bearable with your humor, laughter, friendship, love and hope. Zachary T., you made Phi Theta Kappa and everything else better with your smile and your spirit. I miss you. Mary, good job with PTK; it was a huge job and you did what you could. I am proud of you.
Remember, balance, order and time management will help you in all aspects of your life. Never give up. Talana, where did you disappear to? I miss your laughter.
Everyone in photography class, thanks for making it fun, teaching me the simple things, and sharing your talents, ideas, art and Photoshop skills with me. Krista, Lynn and Katherine P., I love your work. Keep learning, growing and sharing your talents with the world. We need more dreamers like you.
To those of you who need to hear me say goodbye, this is not the end. As Widow Tweed said in the Fox and the Hound, “Goodbye may seem forever, farewell is like the end but in my heart is the memory and there you’ll always be.”
I love you.
See you around,
Sonnet
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