The first day I walked into The Towerlight I was anxious - yet eager. Two years later, I still feel the same way as I exit the office, never to return to the place I once called home.
I'll admit, I didn't think I'd be writing this column so soon, but I was presented a great opportunity I couldn't pass up. So here I am, fumbling together words as I spread my wisdom on the college that helped me grow not only as an adult, but as a photographer too. Believe me though; I can normally shoot one picture to say what a 30-inch story can, so bear with me.
Since transferring to Towson, I've been a freelance photojournalist, yet served as the photo editor of The Towerlight simultaneously. It was a long, challenging two years that basically voided all and any of my free time, but I can't say it wasn't worth it in the end.
From the moment I arrived in August 2006, my byline graced nearly every front page and the sports section of this very paper. From presidential hopeful Barack Obama campaigning, former mayor Martin O'Malley winning the 2006 Gubernatorial race, to the semi-clad girl that had the campus up in arms, and the dramatically lit portrait of an NFL bound football player.
However, those images, and the ones in between, wouldn't have been possible without a lot of hard work, long hours, dedication, and a strong, talented support system around me. Not to mention a lot of "successful failures."
I could elaborate details about how many pictures I shot (I estimate more than 60,000), how many sleepless nights I had (too many to recall), how many courses I failed when I put assignments as a priority (just one), how many unjust parking tickets I received (14), how many students made my Towerlight images their Facebook picture (read: every Towson athlete), or how many awards I decorated The Towerlight's wall with (10).
Except none of that really matters when I know I was helping inform the student body.
Sure, the last two years have been a visual playground for my pupils and it helped me reach personal milestones and surpass my own expectations. But knowing we had a great service for the students, faculty and staff on campus, as well as other readers in the area, was rewarding.
Conversely, my experience with The Towerlight has taught me, if anything, that you can't do too many things well in your life at once. I continually found my schoolwork and social life getting short-changed.
Yet photojournalism is my passion.
Until the day I die, I'll always feel a sense of fulfillment knowing the new, wonderful people I get to meet everyday that willingly let me into their lives all because I have a camera in my hand. What I am trying to say is, journalism makes my photographic heart tick.
During my time here, I've learned more through real world experience by shooting for this newspaper and other publications than I ever did in any classroom. I've developed my personal vision, and learned what it meant to be an honest and truthful journalist. Readers, like you, expect the facts; no visual lies or bias, and I did my best to accurately deliver that week after week with compelling images.
Through all this, the long hours, the ups and downs, if I can pass one thing along to those, specifically students, still reading (are you still with me out there?) - get involved.
Here in college we have a miniature world at our disposal, with very few real world restrictions or pressures.
In short, we can do what we want. So I urge you to take advantage of this freedom and dare to be great by taking risks everyday.
As for me, I am taking my last few risks as my college career ends. Saying goodbye to the student newspaper I was dedicated to and loved, my colleagues and valued friends, and of course, retaking that failed class and final course I need to graduate.
Following my stint here, this chapter of my life, I hope to be informing people with my photographs somewhere in the world. I live for photojournalism and traveling, so anything that involves having my cameras in my hand, possibly seeing the world, meeting new people daily and telling their story would be ideal.
Thanks to my three editors-in-chief (Brian Stelter, Sharon Leff and Kiel Mclaughlin) who always trusted me to deliver compelling images and stood behind my work. My professors who allowed me to miss class (even if I say I didn't learn anything from you) and who personally took an interest in my work. And the rest of my colleagues at The Towerlight, who laughed at my unfunny jokes, survived my blunt criticisms and helped piece together every story we published. I've learned something from each of you; I'll never forget my time here.
To close this out, in words better than my own, Pulitzer winning photographer Eddie Adams once said, "If it makes you laugh, if it makes you cry, if it rips out your heart, that's a good picture."
Patrick Smith is a Mass Communication Major graduating in December, and the former Towerlight photo editor.
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