I am a firm believer that every experience you have is defined by the people going through it with you. This has been true throughout my past four years at URI, and the Cigar is certainly no exception.
I first joined the second semester my second year. As a film major, I wanted to gain some more experience with a camera, so I figured I would try a few newscast stories out. A few short years later, and I am not sure I have gained any camera experience, however I gained so much more.
Writing and filming for the Cigar has allowed me to connect with some of the coolest people imaginable, whom I otherwise may have never crossed paths with. I have gained such an appreciation for storytelling and getting to know others beyond the surface, which is something I will carry with me forever.
Despite my many complaints about the lengthy Wednesday night productions (although I was rarely around past 10 p.m.), Adobe Premiere crashes and sports graphics, the people who have worked along my side have undoubtedly made my time at the Cigar a worthwhile experience.
Jason, Adam, Imani and Aniekan–thank you for being my start at the Cigar and always believing in me, even when I had no clue what I was doing.
To Claudia, Maddie, Liz and David, thank you all for the constant entertainment, jokes, laughs and getting me through some very long Wednesday nights.
To Kyle Standing, the first sports editor I had the pleasure to work alongside. Thank you for keeping me sane while graphics took hours to render week after week. You’ll be happy to hear, I have since worked these issues out.
To the incredible current Cigar e-board, thank you for pushing me and keeping me motivated throughout this semester. Lauren, you are going to be an incredible Editor-in-Chief and I am so excited to see you shine in your role. Aidan, thank you for putting up with all of my crazy and delusional thoughts that I throw your way. Casey, Jenny and Nils thank you for always making me laugh during your very eccentric check-ins. Lucas, I am so excited to see you thrive as newscast editor next semester, you’re going to be amazing.
To my partner in crime, Nathan Robillard, I simply could not have done these past two semesters without you. Thank you for always matching my energy, hitting me with witty (sometimes sassy) comebacks and keeping Wednesday afternoons in the studio fun. I cannot wait to see you shine on ESPN someday.
To Ronan Himelrick (finally got the name down) – thank you for bringing so much joy into Mondays, Wednesdays and all the days in between. I am so happy to call you one of my best friends. Thank you for entertaining me with silly point five pictures, cat videos and sarcasm. I cannot wait to see the amazing things you accomplish in the future.
To Editor-in-Chief, Juliana Lepore. I remember sitting in the Hillside skylounge watching stress to no end over the Cigar. I wish that first year Juliana could see you now; she would be so incredibly proud. I am so incredibly proud of you and the leader you have grown to be. I cannot wait to see you kill it in the world of journalism, however that may look. Just keep up that teleprompter practice.
I feel beyond warm that I am leaving the Cigar with so many memories, connections and stories to tell.
So, while I may not miss the late nights or the headaches from staring at a screen just a little too long, I will miss the people. Thank you Rhody Cigar for giving me my people.