If you would have told me three years ago that I would excitingly step foot into a dingy basement during every free moment within my college experience, I actually probably would have believed you, but I would have thought it was because my immense trust in strangers had finally landed me in a cult. I would never have guessed it would be to laugh and occasionally work with some of the best people I have met in my 21 years on Earth.
When I originally applied to The Battalion, I was freshly broken out of the chains of being a biology major, looking for any chance to reignite my passion for putting words on paper. As I am a two-percenter — sorry Noah Ruiz — I really knew nothing about the intense lineage of tradition that this newspaper carries. I was simply joining in the hopes that I could write a story and brag about it to my future children. I had no idea that I would enter the most joyous and formative years of my life.
In a world so polarized by every opinion under the sun, you would think that a newsroom full of people fighting to share their thoughts would be tense and cold, but these are the last words I would use to describe my favorite basement. Instead, The Battalion is a miniature utopia with a lesson to share to the world: We are all people, and we all want to be loved.
Within the many editors in the office, I can confidently say that there are none who agree with me on every topic. At the beginning, I was honestly scared to talk or be myself out of a fear that someone would disagree with me, and therefore hate me, which should not be synonymous. It was former news editor, J.M. Wise, who originally showed me that The Battalion does not run like the outside world. As I watched J.M. be her quirky, opinionated and colorful self at all times in the office, I also noticed that no one even contemplated judging her. Instead, they loved her. That’s what we do at The Battalion. We disagree, we laugh and we love each other.
It is at this point that I began to loosen up and truly get to know the souls of all around me and the lessons hidden within.
To Isa: Thank you for teaching me that philosophical conversations are the most fun ones. Your intelligence and kindness brighten every room you enter. You truly make every person you talk to feel seen, and this is a superpower that I will never forget.
To Ian: Thank you for teaching me that journalism is actually pretty cool. Your passion for what you do is truly inspiring, and I know that you will tell the important stories wherever you go. Thank you for not letting me quit. Also, please never stop singing songs from “The Sound of Music” … Julie Andrews will notice you one day.
To David: Thank you for teaching me how to live creatively. You are one of the funniest people I have ever met and been lucky enough to call a coworker. I know you will do amazing things with the desk after I leave. Just please don’t let your rap career get in the way of your day ones.
To Theresa: Thank you for teaching me that there can be beauty in everything. Your lust for life is infectious, and I will try to carry that with me wherever I go.
To Zoe: Thank you for teaching me how to aura-max. I am serious. You are one of the coolest people I have ever met, and I will be looking to your outfits for inspiration forever — in a creepy way.
To Mathias: Thank you for teaching me the power of humility and truly listening. You are one of the funniest and most genuine people I have ever met, but what is truly noticeable is the care that you have for everyone in the office. People gravitate to you because of your warmth, and I aim to emulate that. Also, you’re a great Uno player.
To Kynlee: Thank you for everything. I can’t put into words how much you have impacted me. You are the best leader I have ever had the privilege of working for, and you are an even better friend. I am actually sobbing writing this, so I need to stop before my eyes swell shut, but I respect and love who you are and everything you stand for. I can only hope to be half as beautiful and amazing as you one day. I LOVE YOU MOMMY.
Finally, thank you to Noah, Matthew, Ava, Joshua, Maeva, Fallon, Sophia, Rocio and Steve for teaching me how to find joy in every small moment at Texas A&M.
As cringy as this may sound, The Battalion is so much more than a student newspaper, and that’s because of the amazing people within it. Throughout my years here, I have learned how to be myself, how to see and love others for who they are and how to understand and disagree at the same time. These are things that everyone needs to learn, especially now, and I happened to find this treasure trove of perspective within a dingy, disgusting and perfect basement.
