Everything ends and it’s always sad
By Joshua Rosario | Published May 15, 2019
I spent my early 20’s coasting through life behind the counter of a supermarket intoxicated on my own misery. When I came here at 26 years old, I was trying to catch up and find a standard of life expected for someone my age with only mapquest to find my way.
I didn’t know what I wanted from my education. I didn’t know what I was doing with myself. I was like a kid with a lost dog, putting up signs that said: “Have you seen my future?”
I got lucky one day and stumbled into a intro to journalism class taught by Professor Lois DeSocio. She gave me something I never got from most classes. She was able to create this interest and fascination I couldn’t find in anything else. After her class that semester, I changed my major and by her suggestion, I looked into The Tower.
As DeSocio inspired me to be a journalist, it was Prof. Pat Lauro who inspired me to want to be a great journalist. Lauro turned my interest and fascination into love and passion for journalism.
I owe these two professors everything. I will never be able to pay them back for what they have given me throughout my time here at Kean. I hope I can make them proud as I pursue my career. Thank you for everything.
I am thankful for all the editor in chiefs before me and how I have learned from their leadership styles. I couldn’t have had the success I have had without Rose Marie Kitchen, Sara Ridgeway, and Rebecca Panico. Thank you! Especially, for the check-in text to see how I was doing.
Thank you to my editorial staff! You guys are the greatest team I have had the opportunity to work with ever. You are more than colleagues, you are my friends. I will miss seeing you all the time and I will just miss you. Thank you for your efforts, the laughs, and the vent sessions. Please never lose touch. You are some of the best people I know and I am better for knowing you.
To the entire staff, I hope you all continue to keep The Tower as the success we were able to create together. Working at The Tower is hard, but I promise you it is all worth it. I hope you find the same joy and build the same wonderful friendships I did at The Tower. Good luck and thank you.
To the incoming editor in chief and my friend, Craig Epstein, I know you will do nothing but great things running The Tower. If you need anything I am only one call away. Even if you just need to vent.
There’s not a moment I have spent here that I would change. I have never worked harder than ever before and have never been so passionate. I will always remember my time at Kean University and The Tower as a pleasurable life-changing experience. One that will shape me for years to come.
No matter what the future has planned for me, I just hope I can make everyone proud. Thank you! Thank you for helping me reach a place where I can finally feel like I am not just drifting along. Thank you for giving me a chance to prove I am more than I ever thought I was. Thank you for giving me the hope I didn’t have for myself.
This moment is bittersweet and I hate to say goodbye. Thank you to all those who read The Tower. You have brought me great joy. Those who have reached out and have discussed the articles we have done at The Tower have really touched my soul.
To quote my favorite sci-fi character, The Doctor, “Everything ends and it’s always sad, but everything begins again, too. And that’s always happy. Be happy.”