Saying I was lost in my first couple of years at San Diego State University would be an understatement. I came into this school “undeclared,” which is a word that still looms over me to this day. Constant talks with my counselors, my therapist and my parents were met with one question: “So, what do you want to do?” 

At some point, I finally looked around me and realized everything I was passionate about aligned with journalism. Each club, hobby and extracurricular I landed myself in fell under the category of multimedia journalism.

Once I finally granted the wishes of everyone around me and declared my major, I started looking for ways I could do more as if I were making up for years of lost time. 

I found myself wanting to connect with other journalists and learn as much as I could about this newfound passion. Eventually, I landed in a room with Jesse Marx at a KCR workshop where I learned more about audio editing, investigative journalism and The Daily Aztec. This meeting set the stage for the rest of my time here at SDSU. 

Now, I have far too many podcasting jobs on this campus, I have grown a stronger passion for investigative journalism and I get to be part of a really talented group of journalists here at The Daily Aztec. 

I will be exiting SDSU and The Daily Aztec in a much different way from when I found it: a little less lost.

Ask my parents and you’ll know I’ve always loved having a camera on me, but never did I think I would make a career out of it. The Daily Aztec is where I realized my full journalistic potential and grew my craft as a multimedia journalist. 

Growing up as a competitive dancer, I always believed my career would be in the dance industry. That was until I joined my high school’s news station, and while I did love having that camera on me, I realized I equally enjoyed communicating with others and telling their stories. 

Transferring to San Diego State in the fall 2024 semester was one of the biggest decisions of my life, but also one of the best. Not only was I moving away from home for the first time, but I knew absolutely no one, until I joined the Daily Aztec. 

From the very first meeting I was met with nothing but kindness, and was guided by amazing editors like Madison Laracuente, Isabella Dallas and Naiima Paul, who wanted nothing but the best for me. I met like-minded individuals with similar passions as me and encouraged every piece of work that I published. 

I will never forget that feeling when my very first social media reel was posted. From that point on, becoming a broadcast journalist wasn’t just a dream anymore, it was a reality. 

Serving as the multimedia editor this past year has been an absolute pleasure and one of the highlights of my college experience. But the role wouldn’t be memorable without the amazing contributors who consistently showed up and were always eager to learn. This role also wouldn’t be memorable without my amazing co-editor, Lindsey Belsky, who together we rebuilt the multimedia section and successfully revived the live broadcast. Thank you to my parents for their unconditional support and for always believing in me. To anyone that ever happened to come across one of my Instagram reels, bylines or tuned into a live broadcast, thank you. 

On a campus with nearly 42,000 students it can be hard to find a voice and community, but I know I found mine at the Daily Aztec.

This is the last story I will write for The Daily Aztec, and for once, the story is mine. The Daily Aztec has seen every version of me. When I was a freshman, I felt like a small fish in a big sea with so much uncertainty. I was rediscovering who I truly was and growing into who I was becoming. I spent most of my past years as a pre-professional ballerina and performer; my life was centered around discipline, storytelling, and passion, which I was searching for when I stepped foot on SDSU’s campus. 

The Daily Aztec gave me the voice I was searching for. My experiences and passions began to shine through in my on-camera work. My background in performance instilled confidence in me, while journalism provided a deeper sense of purpose. The Daily Aztec became the perfect place to merge these two worlds. This newsroom has seen every version of me: the highs, the lows and everything in between. 

Becoming a multimedia editor was a bold leap I was eager to take, and it taught me how to lead while still learning about myself. I couldn’t have done it without my co-editor, Emily Barrera, and the incredible support of all the editors and team members. They are the ones who made this experience truly special.

 I also want to express my gratitude to my parents, who supported me through every twist and turn of this journey. They believed in me even when I doubted myself, and their love gave me the courage to pursue work that truly matters to me.

As I leave SDSU, I feel more certain about the path I want to take. I aspire to become a broadcast journalist who leads with care, energy, and purpose. I want my work to reach people, inform them and make them feel seen. One day, I hope to build my own platform where I can use my voice to create a meaningful impact and make a lasting difference. This may be my final sign-off from the Daily Aztec, but it is not the end of my story; it is the beginning of everything this newsroom helped me become.

Every morning before elementary school, I watched NBC’s Today Show and dreamed of becoming a broadcast journalist like Savannah Guthrie. From anchoring TPMS TV in middle school to serving as editor-in-chief of the yearbook and a sports reporter for Titan TV, my passion for journalism only grew. When I was accepted into the SDSU journalism program, it was one of the best days of my life.

At SDSU, I wanted to get involved in everything, but it was not until sophomore year that I discovered the Multimedia section of The Daily Aztec — a hidden gem. Anchoring The Daily Aztec Live alongside Adrielle Hasara, Lindsey Belsky, Mimi Simons and Madison Laracuente was the highlight of my week and strengthened my passion for storytelling. Serving as multimedia editor and social media editor were privileges. The Daily Aztec gave me the tools to grow as a journalist while connecting me with a community of passionate storytellers within a small major at a large university.

I am grateful to have worked alongside Laracuente, Hasara, Belsky and Emily Barrera over the last two years and to have received mentorship from Daesha Gear and Rosalie Burich. This year’s editorial board was something special, and the passion every editor brought to revamp The Daily Aztec was truly inspiring.

I’ll end with an iconic quote from Elle Woods herself: “We did it!” Congratulations, Class of 2026. Thank you to The Daily Aztec for everything you taught me and for preparing me to pursue my dream career in broadcast journalism.

I owe all of my foundational experience in journalism to The Daily Aztec. When I first started at SDSU, I had virtually no journalism experience and only dreamed of covering the events I have been privileged enough to report on over the last four years. I was a timid freshman who hoped to gain some experience. I was welcomed with open arms into a group of wonderful people who mentored me and taught me many of the skills I needed to be successful in my college career.

Over the last four years, I have been given the incredible opportunity to travel, cover major events and immerse myself fully in San Diego culture through this organization. I have been able to write, produce multimedia packages and work in social media— all things that have helped shape me into a journalist. These experiences have made the last four years so incredibly meaningful and truly unforgettable.

This last school year, I had the amazing privilege of being the social media editor, which only connected me more deeply with my co-editors and colleagues, who became some of my closest friends. Time and time again, I have been inspired to work harder and be more creative by the people around me. We have all grown together so much. As I leave The Daily Aztec, I will always be grateful for the tools it gave me, not just as a journalist, but as an individual, and for the relationships that will stay with me long after this chapter ends.

Coming to SDSU, I knew one thing: I was a girl from Washington state who was sick and tired of the rain and looking for a change of scenery, in hopes of getting my degree in film production and then quickly setting my sights on Hollywood.

I was a photographer in high school, but at the time it was something I saw as more of a side hobby, something that took up my spare time and that I would leave behind when I started college. But it quickly became a grounding point in my college journey when I found myself lost and homesick amongst all the chaos of my freshman year.

The Daily Aztec has brought me so many wonderful opportunities that I will forever hold onto and be grateful for long after my time has ended here. From the countless hours spent on sidelines and in workrooms to concert barricades and on-campus events, every experience was a chance to help capture the stories that shaped my time at SDSU.

Thank you to the countless friends I made, you all made my time in The Daily Aztec so much more fun, and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to share it with.

To my editor predecessors, Brittany and Bella, your guidance and leadership inspired me to take on the role of photo editor and be the one to help lead the section with the same passion, creativity and care you both showed me.

And the biggest thank you of all goes to my parents, my constant source of strength, my biggest cheerleaders, and the people who have stood by me through every high and low of this journey. Thank you for believing in me even in the moments I doubted myself, for encouraging me to keep going when things felt overwhelming, and for always helping me find light in the hardest situations. Your love, patience and unwavering support mean more to me than I could ever put into words. I truly would not be here without you.

As a film major, I never knew I would spend so much of my collegiate career inside of a newsroom. But thanks to a random GE journalism class, I found The Daily Aztec, whose newsroom became that of a second home, and the people who filled that newsroom, past and present, became like a second family.