BY MARGO MASSEY, Editor-in-chief

In the fall of 2008, I came to Central bright eyed and ready for what was supposed to be the best few years of my life.

Five years later, including a year off, living with my parents in Germany, my view on college is completely different.

I’ve met some of the worst people here, learned how to fail a class spectacularly, and found out what true stress really is.

On the other hand, I’ve met some of the BEST people and figured out life, and what I want to do with it. I wouldn’t trade my last few years here for anything in the world.

The turning point for me had to be when I joined The Observer.

I fell in love with reporting, writing and the paper itself.

Now I’m staring down the barrel of my last week at Central with slight fear in my heart.

I’ve been here for what seems like forever and now I have to go out into the real world and get a real job — what a scary prospect.

As I leave this town, this school, and this paper, I do have a few parting words for those I’ve tolerated and who have tolerated me in daily life.

I’ll start with my Observer staff. (Well they are more like family at this point.)

Adam: No matter how much crap I give you, I’m proud of you and what you’ve done this quarter. Take care of my baby next quarter, I know it’s in capable hands. Sassholes forever!

Camille: You are forever my golden child. Keep showing everybody up, writing kick-ass reviews and putting on an awesome radio show. You done good kid.

Patience: Have fun with history when you leave The Observer. One day you need to accept free baked goods from them! You CAN live on cake and lies alone. Also, don’t talk to any more chess journalists or try to guide drunk people back to hotels, just don’t.

Evan P: I’ve had almost every journalism class with you since I started. We’ve been here forever and it’s awesome to know that we’re finally done! Go get an awesome job and maybe I’ll see you out in the real world someday.

Jaryd: Half the time, I’m not sure if you’re even in the newsroom because you’re so quiet. I’ve had classes with you since the beginning too, so finish up and get out while you still can.  It’s ok, I know I’m your favorite, you can admit it.

Mia: You’re awesome. You make sure we don’t look like idiots in the paper and I love you for it. Have fun when I’m gone and don’t miss me too much!

Jamie: Don’t worry, I don’t just like you because of Boomee — we’ve had some great times. Thanks for helping me survive 310 this quarter and I’ll miss you!

Nick: You’re the best at saving our asses with your amazing photos. We would have crashed and burned so many times without you.

Evan T: Don’t let anybody get you down about those fabulous sweaters or your skills at over packing.

Jessie: We will always have San Francisco. You know exactly what I mean by that. Enough said.

Matt: I know you’re not on the staff this quarter, but writing a goodbye to the staff without mentioning you would feel wrong. Thanks for being my smoking buddy all last quarter. Good luck with next quarter and getting back on the horse.

Derek: You’re a terrible person for calling The Doctor a vampire. The newsroom isn’t the same without your sneezes and we miss you! Bless you!

Moving on from my lovely staff, there are three people in this town that I’m going to miss above everyone else.

Kasey: You’re my brother and I love you to death. I don’t know if I would have made it through this year without you. Don’t EVER let anyone stop you from going fast!

Cassie: We’ve been through way too much together and you’ve almost been in my life for longer than not. You’re my platonic soul mate and I can’t wait to see where life continues to take us. I still maintain that we are going to get made fun of at our 10-year reunion for both being with someone named Andrew. Our lives…

Andrew: What do I say to/about you? There isn’t much to say that I haven’t already. Thanks for being the best boyfriend there is. I love you and living so far apart the next few quarters is going to suck. We’ve got this though. You and me kid.

If I didn’t mention you, don’t worry, you just didn’t mean that much to me.

I’m just kidding. I couldn’t mention EVERYBODY and still have it fit on a page. Sorry!

The last few years have had their ups and downs, but I look back on them with nothing but fondness.

I’m outtie Central, it’s been real.