With my Jambar career closing, I’m fondly looking back at the memories created and lessons learned over the last four years. Fedor Hall has become a second — maybe even a first — home to me, and when I walk out tonight, it will be hard to hold back the tears.
The friends I’ve made while working here have become some of the best in my life, and they have proven to be some of the most decent people I know. However, before I wax poetic about a bunch of people, I want to look back at my education at Youngstown State University.
I’ve learned about the inverted pyramid, how to use Adobe and so much more, but what I want to focus on are the things I never learned.
First, what in the name of all that is holy is an ice cream paint job, and, more importantly, how did it become a popular song? Second, why can’t I have superpowers? Last, why can’t anyone find Carmen Sandiego and Waldo? We’ve been at it for years.
Humor, or lack thereof, put aside, I’m proud of my decision to come to school at YSU, and so should everyone that comes here. The fact is, you are furthering your education, and, while you may have stayed home to do so, you are still bettering your chances of finding a good job and being able to call yourself a success story.
I have a lot of people to thank for helping me become the person I am today and they are, in no particular order, Mary Beth Earnheardt, Alyssa Lenhoff, Tim Francisco, Guy Coviello and Bill Lewis. In one way or another, you all have made an impact on my life whether you realize it or not, and for that I thank you and will carry you all with me as I continue on in life.
To my Jambar comrades that have continued on before me — Justin Mitchell, Chelsea Pflugh, Adam Rogers, Dan Pompili and Lamar Salter — I also want to thank you for being in my life. While my teachers laid the blueprint, it is because of my relationships with you all that I have able to build on the foundations that were built.
To my current co-workers and friends, it is with a heavy heart I say goodbye. I will remember all of you — well, most of you — fondly.
Josh: First, and most importantly, congratulations on your upcoming graduation. For what it is worth, I am proud of you. We’ve done a lot of Jambars together, and, come this summer, I don’t think I’m going to know what to do without it. But, at the same time, I will rest easy knowing there isn’t something we disagree on. Just a couple of random notes: Nickleback sucks, you’re better than that and good luck to you.
Emmalee: You may technically have graduated already, but we started at The Jambar at the same time, and, in some non-creepy way, we are connected. I will forever remember the moment you and I karaoked Alanis, and it is something I hope we can do again. It really was a lot of fun. Good luck with the rest of grad school and with another season on the cast of “The Jambar.”
Doug: Oh, wise one, please show me the way to enlightenment … or at least the way to good reporting and writing. We’ve shared a lot of smoke breaks and had some conversations about things I frankly don’t remember, but I appreciate having someone to smoke with. Bring back the argyle.
Jeff: Regardless of how hard you try, you’ll never convince me that Nas is better than Jay-Z. You’ve become a good friend of mine, and I am glad that the paper gave us a chance to get to know each other. You have a good outlook on life, and someday the good guys will stop finishing last.
Jordan: I wanted to hashtag this whole part, but that is just too many pound symbols. Dragon coins, WATTS going on, laser tag kid. No one else will understand this line, but that makes it more amusing. Good luck as the managing editor next year, and keep my design cronies in line.
Chris: We probably got off on the wrong foot back in Louisville, and, for that, I have but one question: Are we cool, man? That one annoying phrase will forever haunt me, and I’ll never be able to say it to anyone without laughing. Congratulations on earning the editor-in-chief position, and, as I told Jordan, keep those designers in line.
Marissa: Never has anyone been able to argue with me and keep me remotely entertained.
