After spending the last two years here at the University of Rhode Island and inside The Good Five Cent Cigar, it is hard to believe that my time here is running out, and soon I’ll be moving on from being a student.
I remember going to my first meeting at The Good Five Cent Cigar and wondering what it would be like going to the sports section. When I came to URI as a transfer student in January 2024, I had no experience in writing sports articles. I took a large leap when walking into the sports room to take a news story; I’m not even a sports media major.
The people I once saw as strangers are now the ones I will miss after graduation.
My first print article for sports at URI was a recap for men’s track and field, and I remember feeling great about having my article go on the Cigar’s website, covering a Division I sport. I moved on to covering other print sports stories such as rowing, soccer and cross country.
Though I enjoyed writing about the game recaps, interviewing athletes and coaches and telling their stories in the student newspaper, I decided to make a shift to learning newscast. This was another big step in my collegiate journalism career since I had little video experience.
After I created my first newscast, I watched my development grow in that section with the help of my sports and newscast editor. I looked at the progress I’ve made and remembered all the fun I had from creating past newscasts. From recording from the sidelines and baselines in the loud Rhody Ruckus atmosphere of Meade Stadium and the Ryan Center, to standing in the cool, windy Kingston air, recording baseball and softball games at Bill Beck Field and the URI Softball Complex.
It baffles me that going to the Memorial Union on Monday nights, catching up with friends and classmates, discussing the latest sports news and getting our stories for the week is now a memory.
As the saying goes, “time flies by when you’re having fun.” They weren’t lying about that.
I want to thank the editors that I briefly mentioned earlier. First, I would like to thank my newscast editor, Morganne Judd, for helping me develop my skills and confidence with newscasts. Next, I would like to thank my former sports editors, Zachary Petrick, David Okula and current editor, Charlie Adams, for also assisting me when I needed help with my sports stories.
Lastly, I want to thank everyone whom I met at The Good Five Cent Cigar who made it a warm and welcoming environment. But unfortunately, I must move on, back to you.
