By: Alyssa Foster
Editor-in-Chief
I knew the time to write this story would come, but I never knew I would actually be ready for it! Since I have always been such a passionate student, I assumed I would struggle with the idea of graduating. However, I am ready to graduate and move forward, and unfortunately that means leaving The Preface behind.
I have only been a part of The Preface for two-and-a-half years. I joined a few weeks after starting classes at IU South Bend, and it has been one of my favorite parts of my experience here.
I have to give a shout out to Cassidy Martenson, one of my best friends and the girl who introduced me to The Preface. She was an intern, I was looking for information, and she was my go-to for all of it. Without her, I would not be writing this. So, Cassidy, this is your fault.
I also have to give a thank-you message to our adviser, Ken Klimek. Ken is one of the funniest people I know and has always trusted me in my decisions for my work for The Preface. He has always been the backbone of The Preface and has been there to make me and the other staffers laugh, even in times of frustration, and even when he calls me “Ashley” instead of my actual name.
I have loved writing for The Preface and meeting so many wonderful people. Seeing people share my work and hearing people talk about the stories I have written will never get old, and being able to edit the stories of other writers over the last year and a half has been incredible as well. Seeing their growth and the way they capture stories has allowed me to expand my personal skills, and for that I am forever grateful.
Last, I want to thank Mira Costello, The Preface’s editor, and my rock during this last semester of The Preface. Thank you for listening to my struggles and helping me confirm sources and approach situations that I would have otherwise failed in. You are an incredible writer, editor and person, and I am beyond confident leaving The Preface in your hands (along with Ashley Rose’s amazing photography and Taylor Garrett’s incredible layout skills, of course!).
I do not want to make this goodbye long, but I do want to say one final thing to anybody interested in writing: do it. I have no regrets in my time with The Preface. While this semester seemed to take forever, I will miss the staff, the routine and napping on The Preface office couches tremendously. However, it is finally time to move on.
