Author bio:
Jeremy Garza is managing editor this year and has enjoyed being the bad cop to Archana’s sunshine. To get through editing, he drinks black cold brew or is daydreaming about his next one.
Cal Poly is like a really formative relationship. This campus and town have given me both my brightest and darkest days. After years of thick and thin, I am ready to break up with this place.
I got to Cal Poly days after I turned 19 in September 2022 and, boy, was I stupid with my head in the clouds. Mustang News shifted my gravity and brought me back to Earth. Through the news team, I was out in the community representing something larger than myself. I had to learn real quick how to conduct myself and put down the pen.
Every Sunday, friendships grew and stories were discussed at news team meetings. I was amazed by older students, like the heaven-sent Chloe or stand-up comedian Owen. My Sundays at 5 p.m. have now been blocked off for four years, and it’s going to be weird removing that event from my Google Calendar.
The bittersweet truth is college should be temporary. College media is special because it is built by shifting teams each year. I hope a new, fried freshman will start on the news team in the fall to restart my life cycle.
I’ll miss gossiping with campus employees or overhearing conversations on Dexter Lawn that lead me to stories — there are a lot I’m dying to tell but ran out of time. Yet, missing something means you truly loved it. And, girl, I really love this place.
To save space for the many other talented seniors that grew up in Mustang Media Group, I’ll keep my notes brief. Breaking up with Mustang News and KCPR and San Luis Obispo will hit me like a bus, but the lessons I’ve learned from this relationship will guide me for the rest of my personal, professional and romantic future.
