What a way to end it with the Spartan. Five years later and countless stories written and edited. It feels like I got here before the internet was a thing.  

It has been a long journey for me as a writer, athlete and person. This place has shaped me into a much different person than I was when I came in. When I first came into this school, it was the year of COVID, and everything was online. That was torture and I felt like I didn’t really get to truly do anything at this place.  

Fast forward to my first in-person class I ever had with Dave Blow and it changed my whole perspective of how I saw myself as a writer and what my experience was going to be like here. It was not easy at first for me to join The Spartan.  

I had never made a meeting because of practice, which was so tough, but I knew I needed to get involved with the sports. Dave kept pushing me to get more involved, and thank God he did because he helped me find my writing voice and style over these years.  

Over my time here, I owe a lot to Dave because he’s prepared me for my future with sports journalism and everything I want to do. Ironically though, the class I had with Dave that I think was the most beneficial for me had nothing to do with sports. It was Feature Writing and mandated  weekly blog posts. I used to just sit down and watch the number one show on Netflix that week and write about it. That assignment was so fun and shaped how I wrote the rest of my time here.  

So, thank you for everything Dave. You helped me in many ways throughout my time here and I couldn’t be happier to have worked with a mentor like you. I know with your guidance over the years I’m ready to actually get a job in our field but be successful with it.  

Now, onto the Spartan and what it has done for me over the years. The Spartan was a lot of fun for me. Four years and countless issues of the newspaper later, I am leaving my final mark on it. The Spartan has been a fun experience to have throughout college.  

Whether it was me trying to convince Jackson Edwards and Lauren Fotter to join or our yearly trips to New York City. The Spartan never failed me. It also introduced me to a lot of great people over the years that, if I’m being honest, I’m not certain that I would have met if I was not in the club.  

Back to the New York City trip for a second, but it has to be a top experience that you can get at this school through a club. The conference is great with so much useful information for a person in the journalism world and the trip itself, you can really take advantage of getting to explore the busiest city there is. The trip is what you make of it, and I think every year it only gets better.  

Minus the day Jackson and I were on full bed rest because we were both sick… 

Over the years, the Spartan has been a staple for me, and it will be something I cherished during my time at Castleton. It  feels like 20 years I’ve been here. All the sports crew through the years I thank you and thank you Maddie and Pearl for being great editors.  

I could keep going all day, I mean I have been here forever, but the Spartan was the other side of my Castleton experience next to my experience as an athlete here. 

Both were much different than each other but, both taught me more than I could ever ask for moving forward.