Grad Guide | 2024

As you get ready to don your cap and gown, connect with the University Career Center for resources to help you on your path.

• Fine tune your résumé and cover letters.

• Meet with a career readiness coach.

• Build out your LinkedIn profile.

• Learn job search strategies and practice interviewing.

Want more details? Visit our website or drop by Tykeson Hall garden level to learn more and prepare for success!

Oh, and if you already know what’s coming next or where you’re headed, please take our senior survey!

And remember, once a Duck, always a Duck!

We’ve got career support for you up to a year after graduation!

SENIORS DISCUSS POTENTIAL PRO-PALESTINE PROTESTS

DURING GRADUATION

Following the cancellations of and walkouts at graduation ceremonies at other universities, uncertainty surrounds UO’s commencement and how it might be impacted by potential pro-Palestine protests

Santiago

VISUALS

Stella Fetherston

BUSINESS

PUBLISHER & PRESIDENT Eric Henry X317 ehenry@dailyemerald.com

VP OPERATIONS Kathy Carbone X302 kcarbone@dailyemerald.com

DIRECTOR OF SALES &

MARKETING Shelly Rondestvedt X303 srondestvedt@dailyemerald.com

CREATIVE & TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Anna Smith X327 creative@dailyemerald.com

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Lola Tagwerker

Cori Caplinger

Cooper Gast Taylor Baumgardner

ON THE COVER

Liz Blodgett, the Emerald design editor, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations with a minor in psychology. (Molly McPherson/Emerald)

[Editor’s Note: This article was written before a deal was reached to end the pro-Palestine encampment on the University of Oregon campus, which occurred May 22 at around 8 p.m. Further information on the agreement to end the encampment can be found on the Daily Emerald website.]

With spring term coming to an end, graduation ceremonies are right around the corner. All the while, the pro-Palestine encampment on the University of Oregon’s campus entered its fourth week.

Following the cancellation of main graduation ceremonies at schools such as Columbia University and University of Southern California, as well as recent student walkouts at other ceremonies, UO seniors are facing uncertainties surrounding their own graduation.

Some of the uncertainty surrounds the possibility of protests at UO’s ceremonies.

“It seems like the encampment’s demands still aren’t being met so they seem to keep ramping up and I feel like graduation is such a big event that something definitely might happen then,” senior Ellie Orr said.

“It feels almost taboo to talk about because I think there’s an overwhelming amount of support for the encampment and for protest on this campus that I think a lot of seniors, myself included, are pretty worried about graduation,” senior Zoe Taylor said.

Taylor said that being a part of the class who lost their high school graduation in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic comes with a worry for another interrupted — or canceled — graduation.

Senior Noah Glick, a Jewish student, said

that the encampment should be “out of sight” during graduation, though the encampment is a “political issue that does warrant a lot of attention.”

“It takes away from the moment, and I think also if there’s a lot of stuff going on during the weekend of graduation, all these graduates have worked so hard to celebrate this moment, I think it would be pretty crass to take that away,” Glick said.

Following the encampment’s relocation from the Memorial Quad to the lawn in front of Johnson Hall on May 16, the grass on the quad was blocked off for “turf restoration.”

According to UO spokesperson Eric Howald, “efforts to restore the lawn will begin before commencement, but the area will be available during commencement celebrations.”

ALL THESE GRADUATES HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO CELEBRATE THIS MOMENT, I THINK IT WOULD BE PRETTY CRASS TO TAKE THAT AWAY.”

NOAH GLICK graduating senior

Howald said that graduation ceremonies will take place closer to Knight Library and will not be impacted by the encampment. Department Commencement Ceremonies that will be taking place on Memorial Quad on June 16 include Comparative Literature at 10 a.m., Multidisciplinary Science & Neuroscience at 1 p.m. and English & Folklore at 4 p.m.

“I think it is pretty foreseeable that it does escalate to commencement ceremonies and I think it’s really frustrating and scary that the university hasn’t said anything in preparation for that,” Taylor said.

BY ALISA DOUGHERTY • DESIGNED BY EVA ANDREWS

Protesters rallied as five students unchained from Johnson Hall after 100 hours. Meanwhile, a student takes their graduation photos. (Alex Hernandez/Emerald)

WHERE GRADUATING DUCKS WILL FLY TO

Graduating Ducks reflect on their time at the University of Oregon as well as what their plans for the future are

BY HANNA KALAN • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

With graduation closing in at the University of Oregon, some soon to be alumni reflect on their past few years as students and what they hope the future holds for them.

Audrey Huynh is graduating with a degree in business. She said her favorite time in Eugene is during the spring, recalling memories of spending time at Dexter Reservoir and at the Associated Students of the University of Oregon street fair. Huynh said she wished she was more involved with organizations on campus.

“I’m not super social so I never really found a club I felt like I fit into, and that’s something I think I would have done differently,” she said.

After graduation, Huynh said she’s planning to move home to Portland and help out with her family’s business.

“They’re immigrants and business owners,” Huynh said. “I’m going home and helping them [and] trying to get them retired before I get on with what I want to do.”

Huynh said she’s nervous to graduate because this will be her first time walking in a graduation, as her high school graduation was canceled due to COVID-19.

Miranda Stone is another graduating senior whose plans include going to law school and to eventually become a lawyer, which she said she’s feeling “fantastic and excited” about.

At UO, Stone was involved in the mock trial team. “I feel like I did everything I wanted to do. I did a bunch of stuff and made great friends. I also had a goal to get as many [graduation] cords as I could,” Stone said.

Graduating with a degree in advertising, Nick Barbero is feeling “happy for the most part and kind of scared.”

Along with a major in advertising, Barbero minored in sound engineering. Through this minor, he was able to gain hands-on experience in a music studio on campus and work with audio gear.

Barbero said his post-graduate plans include heading back home to Portland and saving money while living with his parents.

“I wish I utilized the school resources more whether that was through counseling or volunteer work,” Barbero said. “I definitely started to feel more like an Oregon Duck after I started to do those things.”

Congratulations to the class of 2024!

Audrey Huynh, a graduating senior at the University of Oregon, poses for a picture in Lillis Hall.

(Miles Cull/Emerald)

Miranda Stone (right), a graduating senior at the University of Oregon, talks and studies with her friends in Lillis Hall.

(Miles Cull/Emerald)

Nick Barbero, a graduating senior at the University of Oregon, sits for a picture in Allen Hall.

(Miles Cull/Emerald)

DUCKS REFLECT ON COLLEGE: LESSONS LEARNED, MEMORIES MADE

BY LIZZY SOLORZANO • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

Graduates look back on their college years, sharing invaluable lessons, memorable experiences and the personal growth that shaped their journeys

For many Ducks, the end of their college experience is approaching, marking the conclusion of a journey they began during the challenges of the pandemic. Eventually, the world reopened and life resumed its vibrant pace.

Now, everyone can celebrate their years of hard work, sleepless nights and countless memories in their caps and gowns. Together, they will step forward from the familiar college life into a future with endless possibilities.

These stories offer just a glimpse into the experiences of a few Ducks as they reflect on lessons in their college journey.

CAITLIN O’KIEF — MAJOR: ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

O’Kief said she felt that she lost a year due to the pandemic, and the risk that still existed after the campus reopened didn’t make it any easier for social interaction.

To fill that void, she made the best of her time and joined the club volleyball team.

“It’s a lot of hard work for four years, but it’s not all work,” O’Kief said. “Some of my best experiences have come from playing volleyball. Meeting people who have the same interests, traveling together and even going to Nationals. It’s okay

to be uncomfortable, just try new things and put yourself in different atmospheres.”

ANGEL SOTO — MAJOR: COMPUTER SCIENCE, MINOR: JAPANESE

One of the main challenges Soto said he faced during his college career was time management. He noted that the demanding nature of his classes often made it difficult to balance projects, friendships and mental health at once.

Sticking to a daily routine initially exhausted him physically and mentally, but over time, he said he learned how to navigate these pressures.

“Over the four years, I’ve been able to refine how I do things,” Soto said. “I feel like I can confidently say I’m a different person than who I was freshman year. The core of me is still there but there’s a lot that I’ve changed. I had a strict, straightforward routine that over time really drained me. I started to pay more attention to what my body tells me that it needs and began to give it what it needs.”

JOSH DUONG-TRAN — MAJOR: JOURNALISM, MINORS: KOREAN, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Duong-Tran said he often felt like the token cultural representative on campus, which made it difficult to find a supportive social community. Like many students, he sought a sense of belonging and engaged in soul-searching through journaling and therapy.

“I’m not used to having close-knit relationships,” Duong-Tran said.

“The ones in high school seemed so fickle and contrived that they left me wanting more out of the emotional and spiritual connections.”

Duong-Tran said he found that being the only person of color in certain spaces could sometimes feel invalidating, particularly when others couldn’t relate and he felt embarrassed over explaining cultural experiences. He found a sense of community in the Vietnamese Student Association on campus, where members faced similar societal pressures and generational trauma, providing a space where he could relate and connect.

“It’s just a group of Vietnamese kids, there’s things I don’t have to explain to them and it makes me feel safe,” he said.

ZACHARY JONES NEURAY — MAJOR: JOURNALISM, MINOR: ANTHROPOLOGY

Transferring to the University of Oregon in 2020, Neuray said he felt that Oregon’s culture resonated well with his European background. He remarked that many might find it hard to believe in his remarkable growth.

“I have a lot of reflection of the person I used to be in high school and the person I am now,” Neuray said. “I will always have self-esteem issues — it’s impossible not to unless you’ve been lobotomized — but I do think my confidence to achieve what I thought was unachievable and to be given the trust from students, faculty and everyone in between has been revolutionary.”

Additionally, he’s learning to savor the present moment, avoiding the trap of dwelling on the past and getting caught in nostalgia.

“I’ve moved a lot in my life and seen a lot of people go, and you end up replaying these images in your head to try to resurrect that moment, but that’s not the point of life,” Neuray said. “The point is to be in the moment, not wishing you could’ve done things differently.”

Angel Soto, a computer science major with a minor in Japanese, learned to balance schoolwork, friendship. and mental health in college. (Lizzy Solorzano/Emerald)

Caitlin O’Kief, an environmental studies major, joined the volleyball team to fill her cup in college. (Lizzy Solorzano/Emerald)

Josh Duong-Tran, a journalism major with minors in Korean and environmental studies, found a space where he felt he belonged in college. (Lizzy Solorzano/Emerald)

Zachary Jones Neuray, a journalism major with a minor in anthropology, learned to live in the present in college.

(Lizzy Solorzano/Emerald)

Phi Beta Kappa Society Alpha of Oregon Chapter – University of Oregon

The Alpha of Oregon chapter congratulates the 312 seniors and 15 juniors elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Academic Honor Society. Members-Elect who have accepted their invitations will be initiated at the 101st Induction Ceremony on Saturday, June 15. Members are selected based, in part, on the extraordinary multi-disciplinary breadth and rigor of their upper-division coursework and their outstanding grade point averages. For mor information, visit https://urds.uoregon.edu/awards/pbk.

The Alpha of Oregon chapter congratulates the 346 students invited to join the Phi Beta Kappa Society Alpha of Oregon chapter. Members-elect who accept the invitation to join the society will be initiated at our virtual 98th annual induction ceremony on Sunday, June 13, 2021, at 4 PM. Phi Beta Kappa is the nationʼs longest standing, most prestigious liberal arts and sciences academic honorary Society. For more information, visit pbk.uoregon.edu.

Junior Invitees:

Members-Elect:

HOW TO APPROACH YOUR NEXT INTERVIEW

Dress to impress: stylistic tips for landing post-college jobs

BY JOSH BERK • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

Graduating is a uniquely scary experience. Many college students fantasize about the day they can take their last test and move into the professional world, while many others dread this new-found freedom.

The hunt for a job, and particularly the lengthy interviewing process that goes with it, is new to many former students. On top of this, a large number of employers have started to rely on telecommunications for recruiting and interviewing, widening the distance between employee and employer.

Graduated psychology major Abigail Phillips recently took a job as a behavioral technician in Portland. The interview process was done entirely online, as she is currently based in Eugene.

“I had just come home from work and my workout class, so I quickly showered and put on my face and then put on a button down shirt,” Phillips said. “And then I was just wearing pajama bottoms on the bottom.”

Phillips said she wears loose slacks or non-distressed jeans when interviewing in person. For her tops she likes to wear flowy blouses, sweaters or button down shirts.

The limiting nature of video calls means half of your appearance won’t be seen. This puts even more of an emphasis on not only your upper body, but your level of preparedness.

“Take the time to prepare your mind and your appearance,” Phillips said. “You may not meet all the qualifications, but if you can sell yourself and be jovial and kind, the interviewer will, more often than not, reciprocate that.”

First impressions are a key to success in job interviews, as there’s a possibility this will be your only chance to leave one.

“Dressing nice is one thing, but making yourself look presentable, maybe shaving beforehand or touching up is very important,” Fisher Cherney, a graduating planning, public policy and management major, said.

Cherney has done a few interviews for entry level jobs, but is in the process of preparing for some bigger interviews once he graduates.

“When people look at you the first thing they notice is the clothing,” Cherney said. “And a lot of people can get that really right, but I think that it’s the little things in people’s appearance that really matter.”

Appearance is much more than just an outfit. Proper grooming and an attention to detail is equally important.

“It’s not the color of the shirt that you’re wearing. It’s if all of it’s buttoned up,

if it’s tucked in [and] if your shoes are not scuffed,” Cherney said. “And the shoes are a small accessory to a lot of people, but on the day when someone’s looking from top to bottom, they’re going to see your shoes.”

Although a significant part of the first impression, appearances can only get you so far in an interview process. Still, it will certainly help you get a leg up. It’s always a good idea to have these details figured out before an interview, so when the time comes you can focus on presenting your skill set.

“I present myself well enough to where they don’t dismiss me based on that,” Phillips said. “I think dressing the part is correlated with how well you prepare and take the interview seriously.”

Taking the interview seriously is what it comes down to. Giving it proper preparation and attention to detail is what will carry you across the finish line.

“Don’t stress it, because when you come in and you’re stressed not only do you notice, but they can also notice,” Cherney said. “Just going in there, realizing that this isn’t the end, and that this is maybe a practice in your next interview.”

No matter what type of interviews you will be taking in the future, it’s a good idea to treat them all with a level of respect. You never know when you might land the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.

(Stella Fetherston/Emerald)

HOBBS: COLLEGE IS NOT YOUR PEAK

Opinion: With graduation approaching, seniors experience a mix of emotions

BY MONICA HOBBS • DESIGNED

BLODGETT

EVAN HUNTINGTON, THE EMERALD A&C EDITOR, GRADUATED WITH A BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN JOURNALISM WITH A MINOR IN MUSIC.

(PHOTO

COURTESY OF DANA HUNTINGTON)

The countdown to graduation is less than a month away. For seniors, it’ll be the close of one chapter and the opening of endless possibilities — a month filled with excitement, celebration and final goodbyes.

Graduation is extra special this year. For seniors who graduated high school mid-pandemic in 2020, we’re officially walking the stage in our caps and gowns. Personally, I feel frazzled and panicked. And it isn’t just because of the job market. I’m jumping into the real world with unlimited freedom for the first time. I have to start adulting.

I hear the same broken-record questions: Are you excited to graduate? Where are you moving? Have you started looking for jobs? You’re going to miss your friends, aren’t you? I don’t know how to answer.

And I’m not the lone senior with these emotions. In an Instagram poll, someone said they’re “excited to start over, but nervous about post-grad depression.” Another is anxious because “the job market is pretty trash.” One senior described it as bittersweet: “I’m sad to leave my friends and not know when or if I’ll see them again.”

Believe it or not, PGAS — pre-graduation anxiety

syndrome — is real. It addresses three points of time: We’re anxious for the future, stressed in the present and regretful about the past. PGAS isn’t necessarily scientific, but it’s reassuring to know I’m not alone.

All of this angst stems from one narrative: College is the best four years of your life. Now, if you’re on the other side, this sounds absurd. However, my greatest fear is reminiscing about my time at the University of Oregon, believing it was my peak.

I expressed my fears to Catherine Heising, who owns the Borealis stand at the Saturday Market. She laughed at the concept of college as a peak.

“Graduation, you’ll get through it. It’s sort of like a doorway,” Heising said. “You’ll just squeeze through it. And get out the other side and try to figure out life.”

And I think that’s the scariest thing of all. It’s the uncertainty of life. Since I was a young girl, my brain couldn’t comprehend life after education. It was my safety net. And now I’m supposed to walk into it head-on?

“It’s a big life change, and everyone has told you that this is the true beginning of adulthood.

That’s scary … and exciting. Embrace the exciting side,” Joey McMurry, broadcasting director at the Oregon Sports Network and former UO student, said. “There’s always going to be scary unknowns, but the beginning of your professional career is something that can truly catapult you.”

There wouldn’t be a system set up where life isn’t fun post-grad. College may be a peak at this point in time, but not life as a whole.

Like Heising said, life is filled with monumental moments. Right now, being a market vendor is her peak. Thirty years ago, it was having her children. It’s always changing.

So maybe it’s that I have to say goodbye to my friends. Perhaps it’s the fear of working a big girl job. Or maybe it’s having to learn how to navigate real life, rather than just textbooks and group projects.

“Be a lifelong learner. Be patient, listen to people around you, and understand that things take time,” McMurry said. “Not everything happens quickly, and sometimes there are good reasons for that.”

Even at the end of this, I don’t have it figured out. But no one does at any age. So maybe that’s what’s bittersweet about graduation. You begin figuring out parts of life, one by one.

MOORE: GRADUATING IS LOADED WITH BITTERSWEET WORRIES

OPINION: Seniors start out worry-free, but as graduation nears they start to consider the professional and personal changes it will throw at them

BY MADDY MOORE • DESIGNED BY GABRIELA MARTINEZ

My last term at the University of Oregon is already jam-packed with work and stress just a couple of weeks in. Even without taking classes, there’s plenty to fill my schedule and mind. Like many of my friends, I delayed thinking about graduation until now because the fall term felt too early and winter felt too busy. Although I’ve been professionally preparing for life after college, my mind is a few steps behind.

College seniors can feel like they have nothing or everything to do during their last year. Whatever their schedule looks like, a large part of their last year is coming to terms with graduating and moving on or away to the next thing. There are heartfelt and stressful parts of grappling with leaving undergraduate life, such as setting up job opportunities while coping with moving away from friends.

To prepare for a career after college, students use extracurricular activities to learn real-world skills and get experience that can help them when it comes time for a job after graduation.

“There really is this culture of working super hard now to set yourself up for success in the future,” Jack Chasin, a senior advertising major student, said. “We’re told since the very beginning, at least in the SOJC, that we need to get qualified in order to get these entry-level jobs.”

Throughout his time at UO, Chasin used the resources available to him through student groups like Allen Hall Advertising to network and find job opportunities. As most of us discover with experience, applying to internships or job openings can feel bleak as some places ignore or reject our applications.

During his junior year, Chasin applied to “around 70 to 80” internships, only hearing back from one. “I was just really lucky to get an internship from that interview,” he said.

The job hunt is discouraging to go through for anyone, and for seniors it can feel like you should grab any chance that comes your way. As job applicants find out as they go, there is an overwhelming amount of jobs to apply to, but it’s about finding the right fit as much as getting an interview offer.

“There’s a lot of pressure that I put on myself to choose a job I know I’ll be

happy with versus just getting a job,” Christina Nguyen said. Nguyen, graduating this June with a degree in advertising, says it’s tempting to give in to an easy but unsatisfying job due to how stressful applications can be.

“If I’m spending 40 hours working somewhere, a majority of my week will be working so I need to choose something where I’m not dreading to go there and work,” Nguyen said. “In the long run, I don’t mind waiting a little bit because I don’t wanna make a rash or really rushed decision for security.”

Fresh out of college, seniors can think it’s easier to settle for a job that doesn’t fit quite right with what they want due to a lack of better options. Whichever mindset seniors have about getting jobs, there’s no judgment here. We all just want to find something that works for us.

Alongside preparing for the professional world, seniors begin to face the prospect of leaving college behind and moving away from the campus, peers, friends and roommates that have been home for four years.

Nguyen gave a refreshing take on breaking apart from college friends and roommates.

“We were once freshmen who were so scared that we weren’t gonna make any friends and look at us now,” she said. “Imagine in three years from now, when we look at each other and look at how our lives are, it’s gonna be so cool to see where everyone ends up.”

Since I’m a senior struggling with already missing my hallway conversations with friends, this perspective gave me hope. With graduation looming, I get caught up in the sad parts of leaving UO in the rearview mirror. But I hope this last thought warms other hearts as it did mine.

“We’ve been through so many phases of change and growth, that it’s [graduation’s] just another cycle of that again,” Nguyen said. “Looking back at who we were four years ago, and then four years before that, gives us a little peace of mind … because everything was okay before and everything will be okay again.”

Since Day 1 over 100 years ago, student team members have been an essential part of our team. Their time with us ranges from seasonal to part-time and more, providing them with new skills and perspectives, and preparing them for a future beyond The Duck Store.

We’re proud to be a part of our team members’ University of Oregon experience, championing their potential both now as students and into their futures. Join us in celebrating our graduating team and Board members at tds.tw/tdsgrads24

Sponsored Content

Grad Gifts

The transition from student to alumni holds excitement for what the future has in store. Just because some Ducks are leaving the nest, it doesn’t mean they have to leave behind Eugene and the University of Oregon. Let The Duck Store help you find a graduation gift that will remind your recent grad of all their achievements.

Eighth Generation Home Flight Wool Blanket

Seattle-based art and lifestyle brand owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe, Eighth Generation manufactured the 59”x78” Home Flight Blanket on 100% Aotearoa wool.

Duck Head Keychain

The Duck Head Keychain serves as a reminder that your grad will always be a fighting duck. This will be the perfect addition to any bag, key ring, or even rearview mirror!

No matter where your grad goes, give them a little piece of the University of Oregon! Feeling inspired? Visit The Duck Store website to see more graduation gifts.

Kelly Nike O Alumni in Yellow Adjustable Campus Hat

Duck gear is an absolute must. Graduating from UO is a great accomplishment and let your fan gear reflect all the hard work that goes into earning a degree.

10 oz Crystal O Imprint Tumbler Glass

Sipping on iced coffee or a celebratory drink, this tumbler is a great addition to any cup collection. Better yet, these glasses are handmade in Portland, OR.

MONTES: THE DAILY EMERALD HELPED ME BECOME THE WRITER I WANT TO BE MONTES: THE DAILY EMERALD HELPED ME BECOME THE WRITER I WANT TO BE

BY NINA-GRACE MONTES DESIGNED BY ADALEAH CARMAN

“IT’S A SPECIAL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ALL WORK TOWARDS BEING THE BEST STORYTELLERS”

When I first came to the University of Oregon, I never imagined myself as a sports writer. But the path I was on wasn’t working for me, so I knew it was time for a change.

After changing my major from business to journalism, I saw an advertisement on a white board in Allen Hall looking for sports writers for the newspaper. I already switched into journalism, why not try it outside of the classroom?

My first job with the Emerald was to cover Oregon softball. As a kid, I loved going to Oregon softball games. I lived and breathed the sport. I thought I knew everything and saw it from every angle. But, once I became a writer, it opened my eyes to the power of storytelling.

I saw sports from a different point of view. It’s a lot different playing them than it is writing about them; they become narratives. Each game has a beginning, turning point, climax and an ending, and my favorite part about that is that it’s never the same.

After the softball season ended, I covered random events over the summer: from the 2022 World Championships, to the Eugene Emeralds, to Lane United Football Club. Once school was back in session, my hard work paid off: I was given the opportunity to cover volleyball.

My experience covering the volleyball team will be

a memory that I take with me past my time at Oregon.

When I found out about my new role, I was excited and anxiously waiting to get started. I did so much research on the team to the point where I felt I knew each of them personally. I had all of these story ideas; I knew random stats and records that I kept my eye out for that could potentially turn into good stories. So, it’s safe to say that I was ready.

One of my favorite things about volleyball is that not one match is the same, which really forced me to get out of my comfort zone as a writer. My game recaps and sidebars weren’t repetitive because the sport didn’t allow them to be. On top of that, the game can shift momentum at any moment. It’s a face-paced game and you played at an intense speed. I had to learn how to balance watching the game while taking notes so I could highlight important plays, players and moments.

When I started to feel comfortable enough in my abilities as a writer, I took on the role as a co-editor on the sports desk.

Now, I really want to put an emphasis on the word “co” because there’s no way I would have been able to take on this position without the other half of the desk, Brady Ruth.

This position made me appreciate the previous editors that I had while understanding exactly what it takes to make a desk run. There were

curveballs thrown at us constantly — it’s the nature of sports — but Brady’s flexibility, adaptability and creative problem solving help make the desk what it is today.

My absolute favorite part of being an editor is working with young writers, because that’s exactly who I was when I first joined the desk. Their ambition, creativity and dedication to their craft is inspiring and it’s good qualities to surround yourself with when you’re in a slump.

When Brady and I assigned them their beats for the winter and spring, the majority of them were smaller sports that barely received any coverage. Being able to guide them while they navigate press conferences, scheduling interviews, pitching stories or just being a fresh set of eyes on an article they’ve been working on has been really fun for me.

Each of the writers on the sports desk have the potential to go far in this industry and I’ve really enjoyed helping them realize the talent that they have that I noticed when I first met them.

As my time with the Emerald comes to an end, I know that when I think about my four years I spent at UO, it’s the first thing that’s coming to mind. It’s a special group of people who all work towards being the best storytellers that they can be and it’s not every day that you find that.

The University of Oregon Ducks volleyball team defeated the University of Utah Utes in a home match at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore., on Nov. 3, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)