As a senior journalism major, I have spent a lot of my time recently reminiscing and reflecting on my year here at the News and my two years at The Warbler.

I am so proud to be a part of these groups as they have taught me so much about journalism, writing, and life in general.

My reminiscing and reflecting has led me to one conclusion: journalism is a crucial tool in society. I have enjoyed seeing my coworkers cover some of the most important things to happen on this campus and how the coverage helped create change at Eastern.

I have certainly enjoyed working with Autumn and our small group of reporters to bring coverage to the sports here on campus. It has been hard with our small group, but we certainly did our best to bring coverage to different sports, athletes, and staff here at Eastern.

I have gained a lot of learning experiences these past two years as my writing has drastically improved and my reporting and interviewing have gotten better. It has helped me come out of my shell and get to know some of the most interesting people on this campus. Everyone here, both in and out of athletics, has a story and I just wish I had more time to tell them all.

Journalism has changed my life. I have gained an enormous amount of respect for the time and effort that people put into this industry because it is no easy feat.

Being a student journalist has been pretty interesting to say the least. We have to step back sometimes and realize that we are students and journalists, so our days can be overwhelming and exhausting. Nevertheless, we persevere.

A big part of me feels guilty for not being able to cover all of the things that every team does here at Eastern. There has been so much success in so many teams on campus and it has been fun to witness. It makes me proud to be an Eastern student and an Eastern student journalist.

I am so appreciative of journalism and more specifically of our student publications here at Eastern. They are so important and I hope that students continue to join them. They are the perfect hands-on experience that any journalism student ought to be a part of.

In my year at the News, being a student journalist has taken me to many places. I traveled to cover the Eastern vs. Illinois State football game and the Eastern vs. Tennessee State football game in Nashville. It was truly an amazing experience to be able to not only travel to Nashville, but to be able to stand on the Tennessee Titans field and to work in their press box. It was just incredible and it is something I will treasure forever.

I was also able to travel to Chicago for the ICPA awards and I got to go on my first flight ever when we traveled to Washington, D.C., for a media convention. These were both incredible experiences that brought our team together.

So, it has definitely been a fun ride. I hope I encourage those who enjoy journalism to join Eastern’s student publications. I also hope that you all appreciate the News and journalism in general just as much as I do. It’s really not as scary as some may think.

Lastly, I wish nothing but the best for the future of the News and the Warbler as they continue to tell stories and bring light to everything here on campus. It has been pure joy to be a part of these groups, even if it was just for a short time.

Thank you to my coworkers, advisors, and those I have been able to meet along the way for a great two years. It will be something I remember and reflect on fondly forever.

Kate Stevens in a senior journalism major and can be reached kestevens2@eiu.edu or 217-581-2812.