Sarah Hagen, Managing Editor
This whole semester, I have hounded staff and contributors about getting their articles in on time. It only makes sense that I didn’t start writing this until it was past due.
It isn’t easy to sum up what the past three-and-a-half years have meant to me in a few hundred words, but I’ll try my best.
I joined The CT in my freshman year as a contributing news writer. My very first article was published on the front page, something I flaunted to friends, family and anyone who would listen. It feels like a decade has passed since then.
When I came to VCU, I was an anxious, insecure student who had trouble ordering food at Shafer. I felt like an imposter when I first joined The CT — I used to toss my phone across the room when the Google Doc editing notifications came through, sure my articles were being ripped apart.
A few years and a couple of articles later, I still overanalyze and overthink absolutely everything, and I think I always will. But my time at The CT has changed me fundamentally — it has made me a better, more confident writer, journalist, leader and person.
All I wanted out of college was to make some friends, find my passion and discover a place I belonged — simple. I was lucky enough to find all of that and more at The CT. Despite some ridiculously late nights and endless hours of editing, I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world.
To Katharine, Gabi and Hollyann: thank you for being my first editors, my journalist big sisters and boosting my freshman ego more than I deserved. I wouldn’t be here without you.
Thank you to Andrew, Molly, Heciel, Sapphira, Maeve, Cora, Drew, Alexis, Katie, Maya, Zoë, Kieran, Bilan, Ashley, Zach, Mimi, Raya, Quinn and Marty for being the most incredible staff a girl could ask for — you taught me so much and pushed me to be the best I can be. Leaving you all is the worst part about graduating early.
Special thanks go to Andrew. We went from writing our first article together to leading the whole newspaper, with a couple cool side quests on the way. I hope our training slideshows live on forever.
I wouldn’t be who I am today without The CT. I found a place I truly belonged, and I hope every single person who passes through our newsroom feels the same way.
Long live student media and local news. The CT Uber is officially SO.
Maya Sunderraj, Assistant Opinions Editor
As a kid, I never belonged to the category of people who knew what they wanted to do with their lives. Every time someone asked me what I wished for, I’d give a random answer, unsure about my dreams except for a few characteristics that I had only begun to conceive of: collaboration, creativity and the satisfaction of doing something both lasting and “real” — whatever that meant.
Transferring to VCU and moving to Richmond exponentially catalyzed my own personal growth and perspective of the world into something greater, tangible and workable. I had previously written fiction and poetry primarily, but wanted to expand my skills into the real, nonfictional world of culture and politics.
Then opportunity entered in the form of an offer to pitch an article to The CT. I wrote my first piece as a response to what I felt was a major political overreach and signs of growing unrest. It felt cathartic and important and my words were reaching others.
Since then, I formally joined The CT as Assistant Opinions Editor, and in these months, I’ve been able to hone my writing and rhetoric abilities into something that I feel can reach and affect the younger generations, Richmond-ers, the VCU community and beyond.
With that being said, in my final moments at VCU, I would like to thank The CT for being utterly integral in solidifying my understanding of what it means to pursue a dream.
Thank you to my amazing Opinions Editor, Katie Meeker, for all of your leadership, hard work and laughs during long nights, as well as to everyone else on staff. The CT made for a wonderful experience that I will carry with me for a long, long time to come.
Kyler Gilliam, Staff Writer
I cannot believe an email I sent three years ago would have changed my life this much. I remember my first day walking into the Student Media Center, a nervous sophomore finally breaking out of my shell. I was welcomed with open arms by everyone, and I’ve been at home ever since.
The CT has created lifelong friendships for me that I will always cherish. I will never forget the long nights of just talking until the early hours of the morning, filled with laughter and joy. Every time I walked into an hour-long budget meeting, I knew I would be there for five.
I want to thank my editors for this journey I have been on these past three years — without them, I would not be a national award-winning journalist. I am forever grateful for the opportunity that I was provided to create meaningful work that I am proud of.
The years I spent with The CT will be remembered fondly, and I hope the next writers who follow me have an amazing experience that even tops mine.
With Love, Kyler A.H. Gilliam
#VOB4LIFE
Ethan York, Staff Writer
I always knew I enjoyed writing, but what made The CT special was who I was writing with. The sports section was a group that made my time at VCU all the more special.
Whether it was watching Marcus try to put out the fires of Kyler and Hayden’s ragebaiting, or watching Jenny carry our intramural basketball team, The Village of Belt to a first-place trophy, these are memories that will stay with me forever.
I want to thank my editors Thai, Drew Thompson and Alexis for all their feedback in editing my articles and helping me improve my journalism skills. I also want to thank Kyler and Jenny for being such great staff writers with me, a title that means so much to us that we’re getting matching tattoos to commemorate it.
The CT was a great opportunity to better myself and grow as a writer but it was also a way to meet all of these great people who became so important to me. As I get closer to graduation and I look back on my time at VCU, it means more to me because I got to spend it with them.
Much love, Ethan D. York
Daijah Hinmon, Staff Writer
I started with a major in psychology in my freshman year of college. It was one of the choices I’d been given in high school of being the “smartest career paths for me.”
Deep down I knew journalism was my true passion, as I was always engaged in local media from a young age. I took the risk and changed my major to digital journalism and have been unbelievably happy ever since.
My time at The CT has been a pleasure, and I’m so grateful for the opportunities it provided for me.
I jumped into writing for The CT randomly and was able to pick up on it fairly quickly. It gave me the opportunity to practice and learn without the stress of perfection or a grade. I was able to find routines and styles that I liked, which I was then able to take into my classes.
I believe that writing for the paper gave me so much more out of learning basic writing, interviewing and research skills. I’ve had a wonderful time working with fellow students to provide a fun spectrum section that I hope all enjoyed.
It’s so fun to be published!
I moved hours away from home to Richmond to expand not only my education, but my understanding of the world around me.
Moving so far from home with no friends or family was extremely nerve-wracking — however my time at VCU has brought more joy to my life than I could have ever imagined.
Richmond is a beautiful place with beautiful people.
I’ve met some amazing friends during my college journey and I’m so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to do so.
I hope I am able to take the skills I’ve learned and apply them to my future endeavors.
Thank you CT friends, Richmond and VCU!