As I look back on my time at The Aggie, I am filled with gratitude for all of the amazing people who made it possible
By EMME DUNNING — features@theaggie.org
For the past two years, I have had the pleasure and honor of being a reporter at the features desk for The California Aggie. When I sent in my initial application, I had no idea just how much it would change my life. The Aggie has helped me grow in so many ways and exposed me to the incredible world of journalism, and for that, I am forever grateful.
Although I toyed with the idea of becoming a super senior just to work at The Aggie a little bit longer, I suppose my time at this wonderful paper has come to an end. In all honesty, I struggled with how to best close this chapter of my life and convey just how transformative this experience has been for me. I would love to say that I have some universal truth to share or profound wisdom to impart on the next generation of student journalists, but truthfully, all I can say is thank you.
Thank you to my fellow features writers for giving me such an amazing support system and community at this paper. Working with all of you has truly made me a better writer, and I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to be in such talented journalistic company. I have so enjoyed reading all of your work, and I can’t wait to keep up with what you do next.
Thank you to Zoey for being such an incredible and thoughtful editor, and for continually putting up with my late-night Slack messages and constant overthinking in our editing sessions to find “just the right word.” Thank you for always supporting my story ideas and encouraging me to be the best reporter I could be at every step.
Thank you to my roommates, my boyfriend and all of my friends who served as an unofficial sounding board for my pitch ideas, editors on my rough drafts and pep-talkers through my countless bouts of writer’s block. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to invest in my success as a journalist, and for celebrating these successes like they were your own. From putting my first front page story up on the fridge to surprise me, to keeping your own collections of my stories, to texting me photos when you find the paper on campus each week, your support has truly meant the world to me.
Thank you to my mom for instilling in me from a young age the importance of talking to strangers (cool mom, I know). You taught me early on that everyone can be an integral part of your community — from the cashier at the grocery store to the mailman to the person next to you on the bus — you just have to start the conversation. You showed me that everyone has a story worth learning and telling, and it is this belief that has become the core of my passion for journalism. I do my very best to carry your empathy and curiosity with me in every story I write.
Thank you to my dad for being my inspiration in pursuing journalism. Thank you for taking the time to read each and every one of my stories, staying up late after meeting your own deadlines to give me feedback and words of encouragement. Thank you for always encouraging me to follow my dreams and for believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. Words cannot express how grateful I am to have grown up with such a great example of a passionate and dedicated journalist and father, and for teaching me that “if you do what you love, you won’t work a day in your life.”
Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my articles. Thank you for sharing your stories, both happy and painful, and trusting me to share them with the world. I have been constantly inspired by the people I interview in this work, and it has been a privilege to listen and learn from you. The reason I can look back on my time at The Aggie with such pride is all thanks to your honesty and vulnerability.
Finally, I want to thank you — the readers of The California Aggie. Thank you to anyone who has ever flipped through our paper while waiting for a class, cut out a story to show a friend or even glanced over headlines while using the newspaper for a craft project. You are truly the backbone of this newspaper, and I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to write for you.
As many of us prepare to end our time at UC Davis and set off on new and exciting adventures, I encourage you to continue your support of local journalism wherever you go. We have immense power in creating the future we want to see, and I hope that journalism will continue to be a part of your story going forward. Thank you for letting me be a part of yours.
Written by: Emme Dunning — features@theaggie.org
