Legacy ending on good note

For the majority of St. Bonaventure University's student body, The Bona Venture is just a newspaper that comes out every Friday.

For the past three years, that newspaper has been like another home to me. I've written more articles than I care to count. Someday they might help me land that special job, but in the end, they're just words. And, pardon the cliché, but words can't explain what The Bona Venture has been for me the past three years.

Coming to the interest meeting first semester of my freshman year, I was scared to death. I didn't think I could do it, but with help from some amazing Class of 2008 editors, I realized my potential.

Not only did they teach me how to write like a journalist, they showed me how to laugh and have fun like a journalist.

Seeing the Class of 2008 graduate and move on with their lives was painfully difficult. It seemed like it would be impossible to have a BV without them.

But it wasn't. In reality, things are always changing, and people always have to move on. As the Class of 2008 moved out, the classes of 2011 and 2012 moved in.

Eventually the sophomores and freshmen who came to have new roles at The Bona Venture also came to have new roles in my heart. The young editors' humor and dedication not only helped make everyone's jobs easier, but also helped me to realize why anyone becomes an editor, or a writer for that matter. Yes, we all want to learn, and we all love Bonaventure and journalism. But it's more than that. Anyone who's here on a Wednesday night can see that.

It's not just about writing a Bona Editorial, it's about arguing over the Backstreet Boys or speaking with a certain coach's accent. It's not just about writing a news story about this meeting or that meeting; it's about turning on that disco ball once the clock hits midnight and belting out all the words to 'You're So Vain.'

It's not just about staying up until 4 a.m. reading and editing pages. It's about the laughs and funny things people say when they are up at that hour. Honestly, the things that come out of a person's mouth after little-to-no sleep are funnier than any comedian I can think of.

Creating the paper creates memories, and with memories come great relationships. Second semester freshman year, Charlie Specht saved my life after I panicked about writing a story.

Second semester sophomore year, I became friends with one of my current roommates whom I can't imagine living without now.

Second semester junior year I became the leader, and, darn, was I scared. I didn't think I could do it. But thank God I had enough people around pushing me and picking me up if I fell, and I'd like to say thank you a million times over to all of them.

Thank God I had Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You' every Wednesday night, just when the time was right.

Thank God I had all The BV love from my first semester to now, and I know the love won't stop here.

Not being required to come to The BV every Wednesday will probably freak me out for a while. But I will still come, not because I have to but because I would love to. I know those taking over are more than capable to carry on The BV tradition.

And it's bittersweet to leave the head honcho's office, but I know the future is brighter than ever, and even years from now when I'm miles from Bonaventure, a piece of my heart will still be on this campus and near this office where so many friendships began and so much love thrived.