2008 Woodie Awards
The long, strange trip
Amber Chemam
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: Opinion
It's hard to believe that my college career at the University of St. Thomas has actually come to an end.
Looking back, my time here has gone by fast but was so jam-packed with major life events and lasting memories that it's hard to comprehend that it really has been four whole years.
It should be no shock to anyone that my very last column wouldn't be a sappy tribute to UST and all it's done for me because, well, I don't think I've made my feelings about this place any big secret… Or maybe I have.
The truth is, at the end of it all, it's not so hard to forget the shitty events of the past year and see that, all in all, I got a lot out of this place (stay with me here). I'm not going to reminisce about my glorious memories of UST's social events or valuable experiences gained through its core curriculum, because, well, I'm not a liar. But, there are things I'll miss about it, the things I treasured the whole time I was here and will treasure even more once they're gone.
For one, while I may not have felt particularly inspired by the bulk of the education I received at UST, as a whole, I do feel incredibly lucky to have been a student of the communications department. In fact, save a few other majors, I don't think I would have been remotely happy anywhere else. I owe a debt of gratitude to the professors of this department and especially to our newspaper's faculty advisor, all of whom always showed an abundance of compassion, diligence and superior ability throughout the years in which I knew them.
Certainly, as a female, it was particularly rewarding to work under the instruction of such strong and intelligent women for the last year, and I can honestly say I learned more from them than I ever expected anyone at St. Thomas to teach me.
And, while the naysayers may scoff and make side remarks at this next reflection, I will still say that my experiences here at the Cauldron were more valuable for me than any other, not only at St. Thomas, but at any institution that I have ever been a part of. I learned more than I can even begin to say, not just about journalism but also about people, workplace politics and, I even think, as an employee of the school, I may have been exposed to some of the very worst encounters I ever care to be faced with. But for that I am also grateful. Every trial and tribulation only served to make me stronger, and I wouldn't have traded this last year for anything.
Looking back, my time here has gone by fast but was so jam-packed with major life events and lasting memories that it's hard to comprehend that it really has been four whole years.
It should be no shock to anyone that my very last column wouldn't be a sappy tribute to UST and all it's done for me because, well, I don't think I've made my feelings about this place any big secret… Or maybe I have.
The truth is, at the end of it all, it's not so hard to forget the shitty events of the past year and see that, all in all, I got a lot out of this place (stay with me here). I'm not going to reminisce about my glorious memories of UST's social events or valuable experiences gained through its core curriculum, because, well, I'm not a liar. But, there are things I'll miss about it, the things I treasured the whole time I was here and will treasure even more once they're gone.
For one, while I may not have felt particularly inspired by the bulk of the education I received at UST, as a whole, I do feel incredibly lucky to have been a student of the communications department. In fact, save a few other majors, I don't think I would have been remotely happy anywhere else. I owe a debt of gratitude to the professors of this department and especially to our newspaper's faculty advisor, all of whom always showed an abundance of compassion, diligence and superior ability throughout the years in which I knew them.
Certainly, as a female, it was particularly rewarding to work under the instruction of such strong and intelligent women for the last year, and I can honestly say I learned more from them than I ever expected anyone at St. Thomas to teach me.
And, while the naysayers may scoff and make side remarks at this next reflection, I will still say that my experiences here at the Cauldron were more valuable for me than any other, not only at St. Thomas, but at any institution that I have ever been a part of. I learned more than I can even begin to say, not just about journalism but also about people, workplace politics and, I even think, as an employee of the school, I may have been exposed to some of the very worst encounters I ever care to be faced with. But for that I am also grateful. Every trial and tribulation only served to make me stronger, and I wouldn't have traded this last year for anything.