After years of following the scholastic cycle—classes for a few months, spring break, summer vacation and back to school shopping—it’s finally ending. At least for some time anyway.

Although I’ve been out of school before, this is a big step. I took a few years off from school in 2003 and moved to Chicago from Miami. I worked a menial customer service job for a couple of years and then decided to go back to school.

Dan Thompson / The Chronicle

Steve Yaccino, Colin Shively, Tim Hunt, Becky Schlikerman and Rachael Strecher work in The Chronicle’s office.

I chose Columbia and my erratic decision-making was congruent with Columbia’s erratic admissions policy because I was accepted even though I missed the application deadline.

Soon enough, I was roaming Columbia’s orange, aqua and periwinkle hallways with awe.

I knew it was important to be focused on school and work hard. I didn’t want to get stuck working in customer service forever. I’d had enough of pandering to upset customers.

I’d been out of school for almost three years and it felt like I was finally getting my life back together. After all, it had been drilled into me that education made success and happiness easier to attain.

Now, after a couple of years at Columbia, I’m finally done.

The novelty of being back in school has worn off and I’m exhausted. I’m also ready to start a professional life. I’ve outgrown this place and I’m ready to be an underling at a news organization.

Yet despite my yearning to leave, I’m also scared. Being out of school now is a huge deal. No longer will I be satisfied with any job that pays $10 an hour. Instead I’ll only be satisfied with a career that pays about that (journalism isn’t the highest paying field). At least I know I will be fulfilled.

When I started at Columbia, I knew I wanted to be a journalist because I wanted to tell stories about people whose voices are rarely heard. My passion for journalism was not only reinforced but it was fueled by my time at Columbia.

I’ve been fortunate to study under some of the most inspiring and talented journalists in Chicago, an experience I owe to Columbia. I doubt that my time at a huge state school would have put me in the same room with editors and reporters from major news outlets, including a Pulitzer Prize winner and an investigative reporter who took down City Hall.

Although this is a school that offers amazing possibilities, the only way to take full advantage of the experienced pool of instructors is to work hard—just like at any other school. Some of that hard work has included working here, at The Chronicle, an experience that is also invaluable.

Putting in a full workload, plus classes and somewhat of a social life has been draining, depressing and chaotic, but it’s been worth it.

The friendships I’ve forged and the experience I’ve gained have no doubt prepared me for a job in a professional newsroom.

I’m thankful to my co-workers and advisers for all of the fun, stress and pride that have resulted from the hard work. It wasn’t always easy, but that’s really what Columbia has been about.

Here, I’ve learned that anything I want is possible as long as I work hard for it.

My friends, family and boyfriend have also been supportive of my endeavors and proud of what I’ve accomplished. Without their help, understanding and motivation, I wouldn’t have worked as hard.

Soon, I won’t walk through Columbia’s brightly painted hallways and although I’ve been looking forward to that day, I’m still scared.

Nevertheless, I’m positive that hard work and support has prepared me to leave school and enter the “real world.”