I never expected my first column as co-editor-in-chief to be my goodbye column, but here we are. I wish I could relate to the saying “when one door closes, another door opens.” But in my case, I felt stuck in a narrow corridor—halfway through one door while propping the other slightly open.

After talking with family and my wonderful mentors, I was advised it was time to close my door to The Chronicle. At the end of August, I chose to resign from my position with a heavy heart.

Now, I will be working at NBC Chicago for my last semester as an intern on the assignment desk. I am beyond excited for this opportunity and incredibly grateful. I have completed my summer internship at NBC5, and I can’t wait to continue to learn and grow at my dream company.

To my Chronicle friends—old and new—I wish more words could fit into a column to discuss how fortunate I am to have met all of you. You’re all so talented, and I’m so proud that I will be able to say “I worked with them on my college paper.”

To my mentors—Travis Truitt, Curtis Lawrence, Len Strazewski, Stephanie Goldberg, Chris Richert, Jackie Spinner and Nancy Day—thank you for always pushing me to tell each story better than the last. Without help from each of you, I wouldn’t feel ready to say goodbye to The Chronicle.

To my best friends—Erin Dickson, Tessa Brubaker, Livi Deloian and Kendrah Villiesse—I’m sorry I made you all pull so many all-nighters when we worked together at The Chronicle because of my never-ending need to talk instead of transcribe interviews. But I don’t regret any of it.

To my family, thank you for everything! (This is the only exclamation point I’ll probably ever allow to be in The Chronicle, but it is deserving.)

I have decided to walk through NBC5’s big, old, rainbow, peacock-shaped door to see what the future will hold. Although, my mentors and friends have let me know The Chronicle’s door will always be left ajar for the occasional visit.

The Chronicle was the best thing to happen to me in college. Spending hours writing and editing stories gave me the best friends I’ve ever had. Working to be published in The Chronicle as a meager “College Newspaper Workshop” student before being hired meant spending hours in the Sky Lounge at The Dwight dorm transcribing, writing, editing and laughing along with other students who were stressed about their deadline, too.

Being hired as a campus reporter my junior year finally gave me a community on campus and helped me recognize faces and places. Being promoted to the management team a year later taught me the power that comes with student journalism and the importance of artistic integrity. The Chronicle gave me so much experience, headaches, laughter and headaches from laughter, and even love.

Despite the stress that comes with managing a news organization and more than 30 college students, only good memories and great journalists come from the second floor of 33 E. Ida B. Wells Drive. I’m so excited to walk through the doors of NBC5, but I will always have a heart-shaped door stopper between The Chronicle and me.