Farewell Column: The people make the place

“The people make the place.”

I procrastinated writing my farewell column for as long as possible (like I normally do) because I wanted to capture why this chapter is so hard to close, and then I remembered this quote.

Audience Engagement Desk is my place because of my favorite people.

During my sophomore year, I was still struggling to find out where my place really was on campus. I was a part of other organizations, but I still never felt like I had found it. So, I applied to The Daily Tar Heel. After my first year at The DTH, I realized that this would become my place.

In April of last year, assistant editor applications opened. After much convincing (or begging) by AE Editor Viyathma Hapuarachchi, I decided to apply at the last minute. 

I got the job. I also got about 30 best friends upon being an assistant audience engagement editor alongside Abby Miss. After about 32 sweet treat Tuesdays later, I can confidently say these are my people. I know each shift is going to be two hours of giggling among our very productive work on any given night no matter who is there.

When staffers see me, Abby and Viyathma together outside of the office, they laugh. We spend eight work hours together a week and about as many as we can otherwise. Between the three of us, no staffer was able to vote the “chillest” nor the “quietest” of the editors. However, I was able to be named the most chatty. Thanks guys.

The back table is now “the place."

Thank you to two of my best friends, Abby and Viyathma.

Thank you to each staffer for an incredible year. I’ll miss shifts with those who coordinated their schedules “coincidentally” with mine — Bella Mikels, Anna Tingelstad and S.K. Henderson. My Monday nights will now be boring without Nakayla McConnaughey, the funniest person I know. And thank you Claire Moran for each week's Crumbl cookie flavors, Ellery Bankirer’s meal prep inspiration and cat lady chats with Neva Diers.

Thank you to our matriarch, Alli Pardue, who taught us the beauty of em dashes. I am so excited to see you as the office’s fearless leader next year. 

Anywhere I go, I can count on running into a friend from the office. I have learned that The DTH is everywhere.

One day on the way to Duke with Abby and Viyathma, I got rear ended. Rear ended so hard I hit the car in front of me. When I got out, I saw the car in front of me was DTH Executive Director Will Lingo, and the car behind me was driven by a dude wearing a DTH sweatshirt. That’s when I knew The DTH was everywhere in my life.

This office and these people have changed me. I could not be more grateful. This has been my favorite part of my college experience and the saddest chapter to close.

I am so fortunate these people made Audience Engagement my place.

@dthopinion | opinion@dailytarheel.com