I have been trying to figure out how to write this, and honestly, there is no right way to wrap up four years into a few paragraphs. So this is less of a perfect goodbye and more of just… a reflection. 

I did not come to Simpson thinking I would end up in student media, and I definitely didn’t think I would be a co-marketing director. Like a lot of circumstances in college, it wasn’t necessarily planned; it just kind of happened. Looking back, though, it turned out to be one of the most important parts of my experience here. 

Being on the marketing side of student media gave me a different perspective on everything. Rather than creating the stories themselves, my role was to ensure they were seen. Student media is filled with work that people dedicate time and effort to, and I learned how to take those stories and find ways to get others to read them. It became about understanding what grabs readers’ attention and how to present content effectively by highlighting the work behind each piece. 

My experience in student media looked different. As co-marketing director, most of my work happened behind the scenes by scheduling posts, sharing stories and finding ways to get more eyes on the created content. Through that, I learned how much effort goes into each piece and how important it is that they were actually seen. 

One of the most memorable parts of my experience was helping bring the student media’s TikTok account back to life. It became a space where students could engage with content in a more relaxed, creative way, and where we could showcase a different side of student media. Seeing students interact with the account and have fun with it added a new layer to how we shared stories and connected with the campus community. 

Beyond the work itself, the people made the experience awesome. Even though my role was more behind the scenes, I was still surrounded by passionate people. Getting to work alongside them and support the stories they were creating made the experience feel meaningful in a different way. It was cool to be part of something bigger, even if my role looked a little different from theirs. 

Looking back, it is clear how much has changed since my first year at Simpson. I arrived unsure of where I would fit in and left having found a passion and a community. 

I am grateful for everyone I had the opportunity to work with during my time in student media. Your support, creativity and dedication made this experience what it was. 

This feels like a good place to end this. Peace out, Simpson College, it was good knowing you. Claire Hughes