I sent my first article to then-Sports Editor Pete Lorenz on August 27, 2008 before I even moved into my dorm room in Tower D.

I was wide-eyed freshman that was eager to learn and get started with The Towerlight and to cover sports teams here at Towson.

The best decision I’ve ever made was picking Towson instead of Ohio University.

Everything worked out for me at Towson, from making the best friends I could have asked for and working my way up the ladder at The Towerlight, reaching the apex in November 2010.

I am grateful for everything I’ve achieved in the last four years and some of the relationships I have forged will stay with me forever. The people at The Towerlight have been incredibly kind to me, even though they were on my case about being from New Jersey.

Staff members like Lauren Slavin and Alissa Katz worked on staff for four years with me and are people I can trust until the day I die.

Sam Smith worked up the ladder alongside of me and served as my left-hand man for the last 16 months. It almost feels weird to not be working alongside them anymore, considering how much time I spent in the office since 2008.

But my co-workers weren’t the only ones I enjoyed being around these last four years.

I worked directly with two athletic directors, countless head coaches and a ridiculous number of athletes. I suffered through the many losses by the men’s basketball team but was there to see them beat UNC-Wilmington earlier this year. I watched my first field hockey game and learned the lingo of women’s lacrosse.

I’ve seen the Tiger Arena develop from a blueprint to a bunch of steel and metal on Auburn Drive.

I stormed the field after the football team stunned Villanova last fall. I’ve seen my fair share of wins and losses at Towson, but I wouldn’t trade these experiences for anything.

The thing I’ll miss the most about college isn’t the drinking or the partying, but seeing my name in print twice a week in the pages of The Towerlight.

Say what you want about that last statement, but I truly relished the opportunity of having my name in print every Monday and Thursday.

I know a lot of people didn’t like my opinions about sports or fandom, but that fueled me to be better at what I do.

I’m going to miss Towson and I’m excited to return as an alumnus in the future.

I have faith that The Towerlight will continue to grow and will continue to give this great university the news it deserves.

I gave my all to this paper and without it, I wouldn’t be h22ere.

Stay classy, Towson.