So, here it is. My closing column for The Gannon Knight newspaper, my final curtain call, my last on-air shift has arrived.
These are my final weeks at Gannon University, before I head off on a new adventure back home.
I will be heading to the University of Redlands next semester back home in California and will finish my bachelor’s degree with the pursuit of my masters.
It makes more sense for me. I live over 2,000 miles away from my family, and I only see them every four months. So, for me to be happier, I am going to be heading back home.
That being said, I will miss everything about Gannon and Erie.
As much as I complained about all the snow, I will miss it. I will miss living near a lake. It’s a lot calmer than living near a beach, plus it’s a lot less busy. I will miss the people as well.
I have really found an amazing group of individuals that will remain in my heart for everything that they have done for me.
So, in honor of my leave from Gannon University and Pennsylvania, I want to take a moment to thank those who made Gannon the place I will truly miss.
I want to thank the people that I met at orientation who became some of my greatest friends, because had I not met you, I probably would have dreaded coming to Gannon in August of last year.
I want to thank the people of the theater community. You really have taught me how to get outside of my comfort zone and that being me is something to celebrate.
Thank you for allowing me to be unapologetically myself. It is an amazing feeling to have people who definitively support you no matter what.
I want to thank the people of the radio station because you allowed me to be safe behind a microphone.
Thank you for allowing me to be creative and an individual, and create something that I will hope is on the air for a long time in the VIP.
Thank you for allowing me to be the nerd that I was born to be and geek out about movies, music and TV shows.
I want to thank the people of the newspaper because you allow me to have a voice on campus and throughout those who read the newspaper.
To work with the best upcoming reporters has been an amazing treat that I love.
I want to lastly take a moment to thank my friends. You are the nicest people I have ever met and I honestly don’t know what I did to deserve you as friends.
I am just in awe of everything that you do. You mean so much to me and I will miss you all so much.
So here it is; my thanks and goodbye to a chapter in my life, but onto the next.
The next will be different, but so long as I keep the friends that I made here and the things that I learned, I know I will be able to do anything.
AMY BENKOVICH
