With graduation quickly approaching, I keep finding it hard to believe how much time has gone by and how fast my time as an undergraduate student went. It feels like just yesterday I was a scared freshman who was attending general education classes and just starting to volunteer for the school newspaper. I felt so lost, scared and alone, and I didn’t know if I’d ever fit in here. 

Now, three-and-a-half years later, I have found a home away from home at UNA. I have a wonderful girlfriend, amazing friends, an absolutely awesome staff and a job I love. I’m so excited to go to class every day. I have a house with my girlfriend and our two cats. I am far more confident, outgoing, passionate, happy, and more myself than I ever was before, and I owe it all to the amazing people I have had by my side for all this time.

I’ll be attending graduate school here, so this isn’t the end of my UNA journey, but it marks a transition, an achievement and the end of what have been some of the best years of my life.

I have learned so much here, and most of it – surprisingly – hasn’t been related to academics, though I have learned a lot from my amazing professors. Equally as important to me have been the life lessons I have learned. 

I learned – the hard way – that life goes far too quickly, and it’s especially quick if you’re busy, so take every moment you can to slow down and appreciate what’s around you. Whether it’s time with family or a beautiful sunset, taking a second to soak it all in and realize that you’re here, you’re alive and you’re experiencing all that life has to offer you has really helped to ground me when everything gets overly stressful and overwhelming. 

I’m still learning how to fail and not let it be the end of the world. It kills me, but I’m not perfect, and neither is anybody else, so what’s the use in freaking out over failure? Easier said than done, but I’m working on it.

Another thing I’m trying to be okay with is change. If you told freshman me that I would be saying this, I would have probably laughed in your face, because for the longest time I did anything I could to avoid change. Graduating high school and coming to college was the biggest, scariest, most life-altering change I had ever been through, and it was rough for me, so why would I ever want anything else to change? Despite this, I have had to come to terms with the fact that life is full of change, and, as my good friend Trenedy said in her last opinion piece, “To exist is to change.” I’m staring down another huge change – graduation, leaving the paper, going to grad school, and the list goes on – but this time, I’m not going to let my fear of change stop me from truly living. 

One of the most important things I learned is to cherish my wonderful support system who keep me sane when things get rough. I don’t know where I’d be without them. I have a lot of people to thank for where I am now and where I’m going. Warning: this will be sappy.

My first “thank you” goes to my parents, who have never once let me think I am alone in this world. From birth until now, you have supported me in what and who I want to become, and you’ve been there to help me sort it out when I wasn’t sure who, exactly, I was becoming. You’ve shown me what unconditional love is, and I carry that with me in everything I do. Thank you for always showing up for me, no matter how busy you were. Thank you for calling me every single night since I left for college my freshman year, and for visiting when you can, and for giving me a home-away-from-home. Thank you for helping me study for every test I have ever taken and for reading everything I have ever written. I could never repay you for everything you’ve done for me and all you have taught me. I love you both so much. 

To Blake, my little brother, thank you for being my built-in best friend. You are the funniest, smartest, kindest soul, and I become more proud of you every day. Though I’m the older sibling, I’ve learned so much from you, and you inspire me every day. We’re two peas in a pod, and no matter how long we go without seeing each other, we pick right back up with our shenanigans. I love you bud.

To my grandparents, Mawmaw, Nanny and Papaw: thank you so much for loving me, supporting me and being there for me, even when I don’t visit or call as much as I want to. Thank you for always asking about school and life, and thank you for caring what I’m up to way over here in Alabama.

Christa, thank you for being the best girlfriend I could have ever asked for. You are such a ray of sunshine, and you bring me so much joy, even when we’re knee-deep in homework and responsibilities. You’ve given me the courage to live as my authentic self, and what a wonderful life it is with you by my side. You’re brilliant, beautiful, hilarious, and good to your very core, and I’m so lucky to know you and love you. In you, I’ve found my very best friend and life partner, and I don’t know where I’d be without you. I’m insanely proud of you, and I can’t wait to see the amazing things you do, both in medical school and beyond. I love you mostest. Also, quick shout-out to UNA HRL for giving us the cutest meet-cute story. 

I’d also like to thank Christa’s family for being so kind and welcoming, and for always having my back. You didn’t have to treat me like part of the family from day one, but you have, and I’ll always be so grateful to you for that. I love you all.

Maddie, thank you for being my first roommate. You made me feel at home at UNA when I wasn’t sure if I would ever be comfortable here, and I’ll always be so thankful for that. Please try to make Ohio a little less far away.

Thank you to every professor who has ever taught me. You have impacted my life in ways you could never imagine. Thank you for encouraging and supporting me, and for giving me opportunities to broaden my horizons and spread my wings. 

To my FLPL people: thank you for providing me with a safe space. I will always be thankful for the internship-turned-summer-job-turned-actual-job, the memories I have made and the people I’ve come to call dear friends, both in Youth Services and otherwise. Thank you to Mrs. Jess for being the best boss I could ever ask for. I’m so thankful you got me to step out of my comfort zone and work for you, because it’s been one of the most fun and rewarding experiences. Aamayli and Makenlee, thank you for welcoming me to the YS team and for being the best (and funniest – you’re welcome, Aamayli) coworkers and friends ever. 

Cathy, thank you so much for all you did for me and the rest of The Flor-Ala staff. Thank you for stepping in and being exactly what we needed during such a tumultuous time. Thank you for amplifying the voices of so many student journalists who felt like no one cared about them. Thank you for showing us what true kindness and leadership can be, and thank you for continuing to support us even when you don’t have to. You’re the best. 

Dr. Arif, thank you for stepping in and being the advisor for my last semester on staff. You joined us amidst a lot of changes, but you’ve rolled with it and have helped us so much along the way. I appreciate your support of our staff and your dedication to doing anything in your power to help us grow. 

Thank you to my previous editors-in-chief, Lavette, Brooke and Emma. You helped me find a home on campus when I wasn’t sure where I belonged. Lavette, thank you for encouraging me to volunteer and join staff, and thank you for being an amazing first editor-in-chief. Brooke, thank you for being the managing editor when I was a volunteer, and thank you for always encouraging me to step outside of my comfort zone and do the things I was scared to do. You’re one of the main reasons I’m still on staff today. Emma, thank you for trusting me to be your managing editor, and thank you for guiding me into my current role. I would have never felt confident in leading my staff if you hadn’t shown me how to be a good leader. I am so proud of the three of you, and I can’t wait to continue to watch you succeed. 

An extra special thank you goes to Trenedy, who has done everything in her power to make this semester as stress-free for me as possible, even though that means she’s stressed herself out in the process. Tren, thank you for being the best managing editor ever and, more importantly, a true friend. You’re such an amazing journalist, and I’m so proud of how far you’ve come since you joined staff. I’m leaving the newspaper in the most capable hands, and I can’t wait to see all that you and the rest of our staff do with it. I’ll always be in your corner, cheering you on. I can’t wait to watch you change the world. Love you lots!

To the rest of staff: thank you for trusting me to be your editor-in-chief. Thank you for working so hard and for making each issue better than the last. I am so insanely proud of every single one of you. I have had the privilege of watching you all grow into the talented journalists, photographers and graphic designers you’ve become. You have all become some of my closest friends, and I’m so thankful to have you in my life. Thank you for making the pubs building an escape from the rest of the world. I’m going to miss our meetings, production nights, group chats, the silly drawings on the board (and the new art board – go crazy), all the sticky notes and the quotes we put on them, but most of all, I’m going to miss all of you. Thank you for being on staff. Thank you for making this newspaper great. I know you’ll all do amazing things, and I can’t wait to see every single one of you succeed. Please know that I’ll still be around, if you ever need anything. I’ll always be here for you. I love you all! (Pretend I’m doing the silly finger heart at you).

Lastly, to you, dear readers, thank you for reading The Flor-Ala. Thank you for giving a voice to student journalists at your university. Thank you for providing me and so many others with a sense of purpose and belonging. 

There are many others I could thank, but we’d be here all day. All of this is to say: I have had an absolutely amazing college experience, and I owe my success to the wonderful people I have surrounding me. I am going to miss The Flor-Ala so much, but I am so excited to pass on my role to those who will come after me. The newspaper is in great hands, and I have no doubt my staff will make it better than it’s ever been once I’m gone. No matter what, keep using your voices for good. I’m so proud of every single one of you. 

And with that, I’m signing off. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being a part of my journey. Love ya! – Kel <3