When I first came to Fisher, I never would have predicted I’d be sitting down seven years later to write about how the Cardinal Courier changed my life. To be honest, I never expected to be involved with any school newspaper, beyond maybe a story here or there.

Boy was I wrong!

Not only was I involved, I helped lead the charge — an experience that paved the way for professional and personal growth.

Five years ago, when this whole thing began, we could only hope we were starting something strong, something that would grow, flourish and create a sense of tradition on this campus.

 I don’t think any of us could have predicted the level of success the Courier has seen in these past five years — the sheer volume of students involved, the state and national awards that adorn the office walls, and most importantly, the praise and respect from the campus and community.

Of all the things I was involved in at Fisher — and trust me, they were numerous —I’m most proud of the Courier.

It’s the voice of the Fisher community, the heart and soul of this campus. What makes me most proud is the tenacity and courage of the Courier staff, both past and present. There is no story they won’t tackle — something we set precedence for with that very first issue five years ago. From exploring major issues on campus to coverage of student organizations, the administration and even the Board of Trustees, the Courier has established itself as the watchdog of the Fisher community, which, after all, is the key responsibility of any news entity.

As the watchdog, we’re not always agreed with, but we have been welcomed and accepted.

That acceptance first hit me when I returned to my room one night junior year to find a few choice expletives scribbled across my door in response to a column I had written that week. While it wasn’t the most uplifting thing to come home to after a long day, it meant people were reading and caring about what we published.

It meant we had established ourselves and created something that would last well beyond the formative years.

To the current and future staff, thank you for keeping this alive. Alums, thank you for the lifelong memories and friendships. And to the community, thank you for an unbelievable five years. Here’s to many more!