While Aug. 30 was only about three and a half months ago, this entire semester seemed a bit longer than any other I’ve spent at AACC, for good reasons. Today, I am completing my run as Campus Current’s editor-in-chief, a role I never thought I was destined for but am grateful to have held. 

 Throughout my years working in the field of journalism, I contributed my writing skills to various publications and organizations. They include Towson University’s student newspaper, The Towerlight, Baltimore’s Gay Life magazine,  the Fort Meade Soundoff and The Quill at Mount Saint Joseph High School, where my dream of writing began. 

 While I’ve been writing for well over a decade, I never obtained a leadership position like I did this year on the student newspaper. 

 Taking on the role of editor-in-chief of Campus Current this semester has truly been a worthwhile and valuable experience, especially because our campus partly reopened after closing in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic. With that, limited in-person classes, services and activities resumed, so students were able to return to our old stomping grounds and see each other again face-to-face. 

 While many of the interviews I conducted for Campus Current occurred over the phone or on Zoom, a good portion of my work came from attending and covering in-person events on campus. 

 Some of the most memorable in-person interactions that I am proud to have experienced as editor-in-chief involved asking students on Aug. 30 how they felt about returning to campus, the hybrid student involvement fair, five of the college’s in-person Halloween events, including pumpkin painting on the Quad, November’s HawkTrade and the opening of the Athletic Department’s Esports team lab. 

 Based on my personal experiences on campus, it seems all of the employees of AACC–faculty and staff–are great at their jobs, if not brilliant. The landscape at the Arnold campus is stunning, the COVID-related health guidelines are well-developed, the innovative opportunities in education, like with the Health and Life Sciences Building, are unceasing, and the resources and forms of student support are ample. In short, goals are being met and the mission of the college is truly being upheld. 

 Some of the AACC employees I am grateful for include Hillary Fisher and Duane Herr of the Athletic Department, Lea Brisbane and Amberdawn Cheatham in the Office of Student Engagement, and Student Government Association President Ben Nussbaumer and his executive board. 

 I would also like to express gratitude for Dan Baum and his team at the Office of Strategic Communications, AACC President Dawn Lindsay, Vice Presidents Melissa Beardmore and Felicia Patterson, and the faculty adviser of Campus Current, professor Sharon O’Malley. 

 I am proud to be a student at Academic Influence’s No. 1-ranked best community college in the country. I am proud and grateful to have served in this important role for the AACC community. I am proud to be a Riverhawk. 

 Students, good luck with final exams and happy holidays!