It’s that time of year again — the time where the temperature is starting to rise, deadlines and due dates are coming out of nowhere and the end of the semester is on everybody’s mind.

While the rest of you are thinking about what you have to do to get that coveted passing grade in your classes, the most prevalent thing on my mind is the year I’ve spent working as the online editor for The Flor-Ala.

I don’t know if I could explain what this publication has done for me or my undergraduate career. From the day I saw my first byline on a poorly-written 300-word story, I knew I wanted to be a part of this paper.

It’s been a fantastic two years. I’ve grown as both a writer and an individual. Each week brings a new lesson, and though I am not leaving yet, I still look at the last couple of issues to come with sadness.

You see, being part of The Flor-Ala is about more than the byline. It’s about more than the satisfaction that comes from writing a good story. It’s about more than going to conferences and winning awards.

The people here, the ones behind the desks and computers who have any part in creating the publication you now hold in your hands, are my family. They are the ones I turn to in times of need, times of happiness and uncertain moments. They are, simply put, awesome.

The Flor-Ala, for me, is also about loyalty. Each person here has a driving force of loyalty to report campus news and keep the students informed. We thrive off of that very premise.

And I personally feel like we have done a kick-ass job at it this year.

Do we have room to grow? Always.

So, while I look at the last issues of the semester with a heavy heart and know our tenure here is coming to an end soon, I also have a renewed sense of passion and excitement.

In the fall, I’ll be returning as the managing editor of The Flor-Ala. It will be different, as the previous two years have been, but the role is one I am excited to take on. We have a phenomenal incoming staff — one that I am positive will become just as much my family as this year’s staff has been.

There’s a pretty popular kid roaming the globe right now who is known as the Kid President. If you haven’t seen his pep talk on YouTube, I would highly recommend watching it. There’s one set of lines that get me every time I hear it:

“Get a better dream, and keep going, and keep going and keep going. What if Michael Jordan had quit? What if he had quit when he didn’t make the team? He would have never made ‘Space Jam.’ What will be your ‘Space Jam?’ What will you create that will make the world awesome?”

This year has set the bar high for upcoming years. The Flor-Ala has come a long way, but we still have a long way to go, too. Are we going to quit now? Absolutely not.

So, know this: it has been amazing to work for you, our readers, this year. It has been fun to see what feedback you have for us. Please keep doing that. We’re here for you.

And as much as I’ve enjoyed this year, I’m looking forward even more to next year. I’m excited to be part of something that contributes to UNA’s little corner of awesome.