It's the final countdown!

It's so hard to believe there are only two issues left of The News Record for the year.

The end of the year has totally caught me by surprise. It's probably because I had the week in Texas ... but I cannot believe we only have one more week of class. Or that there are only two issues of TNR.

This year has been fast paced, hardcore, fabulous and fascinating. I've gone from a bearkitten college living/spotlight editor with no idea what I was doing to being an incoming junior, continuing my role as managing editor and starting an internship at Dayton Daily News.

I feel like I've really grown this year, both as a writer and as a person (ugh. how cliche). I've becoming so comfortable at TNR, it's like a second home to me. The people there, as Kareem used to say, are really like a second family. Sure, we all have our ups and downs, our squabbles and our bonding ... but that's how all families are. These people have come to mean so much to me ... I can't believe some of them will soon be gone.

TNR without Taylor Dungjen ... can you even imagine it? She's been a role model, a boss, a mentor and a great friend. She's taught me (and so many other) hundreds of things about journalism, and her strength and passion as the editor-in-chief will never be forgotten.

Some have already moved on -- Kareem, Amanda, Jamie Royce. Some are graduating this year -- Justin, Peter, Taylor. And we are growing, as a family and as a paper. Gin and I have so many plans for the next year ... I can't wait to get started. We're bringing in some new people, changing things up. It's going to be so exciting, and I can't wait to see what the year has in store ... especially when I look back and see how much things changed in the past year.

I've done some amazing things -- interviewing the Naked Cowboy, having the chance to talk to Christy Altomare, who plays Wendla in "Spring Awakening. Going to Texas for a week to a little city filled with books. I've sat on the basketball court and tried shooting it. I've learned more about this university than I thought possible. I'm so glad for the leaps and bounds I've made as a journalist, and for the realization that I've barely made a dent in the ocean of things I have yet to learn. But I've loved every moment of it.

So farewell to the TNR class of 2010. We will miss you more than words can describe. And to everyone who's sticking around for next year: Let's get ready to rummbbbllleeeee!

- Ariel