By Susan Tallant/editor-in-chief
I know Thanksgiving was two weeks ago, but I just had to save my “I am thankful” column for this issue. I’ll be off to the “big four-year” soon, and this is my last column for The Collegian, so I deem it appropriate. Here goes:
I am thankful for the distance-learning program at TCC. If not for ITV and online classes, I would not have been able to go back to school at all. ITV doesn’t mean I’m alone with my TV. Students get quality education with support from the professor in an ITV class.
I am thankful for my English professor, Dr. Debra Sikes, for making my first college class so enjoyable. I was scared to death to return to school as an older student, so I took only one class at first, just to get my feet wet. Sikes taught me the fundamentals of writing, but more important, made me feel welcome and at ease, despite my age, so I decided to take another class.
I am thankful for Eddye Gallagher’s online Reporting I class. When I enrolled, I had no idea what was in store. All I knew is I would be learning how to write for the student newspaper. Since my fear of rejection kept me from writing prior to her class, this was the boost I needed to jump start my pen.
What I didn’t know, however, was that this class would lead me to a new career with a whole new set of friends. Since that class in fall 2005, I have penned more than 2,200 inches for The Collegian in more than 60 stories and landed two freelance positions at other newspapers. What a jump-start.
I am thankful for my co-workers at The Collegian. Late night page proofing under press deadline forms pretty tight bonds in our “home away from home.”
I will miss my award-winning staff and all of their wit, humor, silliness, yelling, hugging, crying, keyboard pounding, idea making, deadline missing, candy eating, My-Space-loving fun they bring to the newsroom.
I am thankful for our advisers Eddye Gallagher and Diane Turner. Without their help, my pen would not have gotten that much needed jump-start. Their instruction and guidance have led me to opportunities I would have never thought about a few years ago.
Yes, I am excited to transfer to my four-year university next month, but I will never forget my time here. Whoever said community college is just the “13th grade” did not go to my school.
Thank you TCC!
