You know what’s strange? Someone going around and telling everyone they know to remember the Alamo.
Oh, wait. I do that.
There’s no doubt about it. I’m weird. Frankly, I’m nuttier than squirrel poop. But I think that I’m the good kind of weird and nutty that makes life interesting. I see things from a different perspective most of the time, which gives me this quirkiness that also makes me one loveable dude.
I’ve got hundreds of Chuck Norris jokes filed away in my memory that I can recall at random. (Chuck Norris is the best thing before, during and after sliced bread, for instance.) I’ve also been known on occasion to bust out in song or dance, even when there isn’t any music playing. The good thing is, my weirdness has found a home, and that home is the Tan & Cardinal.
I’ve been the Arts & Entertainment editor for a full quarter and almost a whole semester. It’s been a fun ride and I’ve had a blast meeting and interviewing some of the people that Otterbein has to offer. A big thrill for me was getting to meet Judson Laipply, who came to campus and performed his famous “Evolution of Dance” during the First Flight weekend.
The people I’ve worked with aren’t just coworkers or friends, we’re family. No matter how crazy, borderline dysfunctional that I can be, they have always kept me grounded and put up with my epic randomness for the last few years.
Thanks goes out to Lindsey, aka Captain, our editor-in-chief, for not laughing at me whenever I’m struggling to get my idea out into the world, and not destroying my big dreams for my projects. It also gives me great pleasure when you tell me, “Steve, you are so weird!” mostly because it’s what I strive for.
Mike, thanks for being my go-to person when I get stuck, or when I have a crazy idea I’m almost too embarrassed to discuss. Congrats on becoming E-i-C next year. You’ll do great things, I’m sure.
Josh, I’m sorry I let you eat all those donuts. I won’t let it happen again … or will I?
Kaity, I applaud you for your handling of Josh. I would have probably harmed him beyond repair due to all his shenanigans.
Leah, you forgot the Alamo? How could you? I’m now crying incessantly on the inside. Whether that’s from laughter or from tears is your call.
Alyssa, thanks for all your help with stories and editing and Web and copy and all the other things that you do. You are a total badass and it’s rare these days.
I’ve got to be honest. I’m extremely jelly of Jordan LaBatte’s hair. It’s both feathery and lethal. I just hope that my hair can be half as awesome as his is someday.
I cannot thank Kristen A. Sapp enough. She makes every piddly idea I have come to life, and makes everything about the paper come alive as well. She’s practically Buddha with InDesign and Photoshop.
Anna. Oh, how wonderful, awesome and epic you are. Anna is the sole reason that I get to go to New York next year. She’s paid for our wonderful paper and set us up for years to come. The best part is she has at least another semester with the T&C.
Laina and Kathy: my minions, my supporters. Oh, how I’ve enjoyed your accompaniment during the semester. I wish you luck with your future journalistic endeavors.
One good thing about the quarter being over is that Swags is finally off my back about everything.
The epicness that Dr. Warren has been is amazing. She singlehandedly got me an internship at ThisWeek, has helped me schedule my classes and ensured that I graduate on time this spring. I cannot thank her enough for all her effort, support and guidance.
Lastly, I’d like to thank Diane Wooten for all she does. She makes life as a comm student so much easier.
All that’s left now is a handful of classes and graduation, which coincidentally falls on my birthday in May. What a strange way to end an Otterbein career.
But for those of you who are staying behind as I move forward to the next part of my life, whatever that may be, I have one last piece of advice: Remember the Alamo.
