After four years of crying myself to sleep and worrying if I will be able to make it through the day, I finally made it to graduation.
But I don’t know if I should feel happy or sad.
I feel both.
When I was accepted to UB, all my worries of high school melted away for a brief moment. I felt like my life was mapped out: I would become an architect in four years. I gained connections within the architecture world while in high school, which I believe made my UB application stand out.
As a mellow freshman, I had a plan of what I wanted to do. All that changed within two weeks.
I switched my major twice before I joined The Spectrum. Immediately, I sensed that I had entered an organization that would give me purpose and a community that would support every step I took.
And I wouldn’t have joined if it weren’t for one person: a charismatic editor whose only fault was the hockey team he supported.
After talking with Columbia University-bound managing editor Justin Weiss about his love-hate relationship with the Islanders, he encouraged me to open my horizons and step out of my comfort zone.
And I needed to do something as a passionate Maple Leafs fan.
At first, I just thought he just liked orange and blue colored teams, or that he just enjoyed watching teams lose, but neither of those were it.
Although I wasn’t able to convince Justin to become a Leafs fan, I was able to find a life-long friend and mentor.
I joined in the midst of a pandemic when everyone was stressed out with online classes and family members getting sick.
But my future co-worker and editor in chief Reilly Mullen made my time here special. She is one of the best column writers I have ever seen. Our bond began after students were invited back to campus and we were able to work together over pizza from LaRosa (the best pizza on campus) or subs from Subway during production day.
I would like to thank Reilly for giving me a chance with a frat guy — that was a first for me.
But I’ll let Reilly have this one.
In all seriousness, I would like to thank Reilly for all the love and support she gave myself and everyone else on staff to pursue journalism. I wish her all the best as the assignment editor at WROC.
But I guess May 22 at 3 p.m. will be the end. I will walk across the Alumni Arena stage and into a career that is totally new to me. With every step I take across the stage, my head will pound with all the memories — happy or sad — I made at UB these past four years.
Thank you to everyone on the Spectrum staff. You all supported me in your own way and I greatly appreciate it.
For the returning staff, don’t be sad about my departure. I will remain in Buffalo for a little bit and will try to return as a support staff member.
Every day you decide something new, and now, I look back and wonder what could have happened if I chose a different path.
Dan Eastman is the assistant managing editor and can be reached at danielson.eastman@ubspectrum.com
Dan Eastman is the assistant managing editor at The Spectrum. He is a senior geography major who loves Starbucks iced americano. When he isn’t writing and editing he is trying to find the best donut and cookie shops in Buffalo. He can be found on Twitter @TheEastMan2000.
