Many times throughout my career at The Jambar I have been asked one question over and over by faculty, students and friends alike: You're a TCOM major, so why do you work for The Jambar? My answer has always been one word, or noun I should say: Facebook. Yes, the social networking website that for many graduates becomes a hindrance to their job search when they realize they forgot to make last year's photo album of drunken escapades private. For me it was the opposite. Facebook got me the job, mostly thanks to my listing of graphic design as a minor and former Jambar editor Leonard Glenn Crist's site search for students to take over the task of designing The Jambar. Now nearly four and a half years later it's finally my turn to write this senior staff goodbye letter.

It really does feel like I have been working here forever, and if you were to ask our adviser Mary Beth Earnheardt, she would likely back me up on that feeling, as she jokingly tells me that I predate Jambar founder Burke Lyden. But it has been a long time, and through the years I've had the privilege of working alongside an outstanding group of coworkers.

My first day on the job I was greeted by a newsroom that included Crist, Katie Libecco, Bill Rodgers, Steve Lettau and Justin Smolkovich. More importantly there was cake, as it was The Jambar's 75th anniversary. I couldn't believe how lucky I was. I was getting paid to design, and there was free dessert. I knew this was the right place for me.

It's probably time for me to begin thanking people who have impacted me greatly throughout this experience.

Richard Louis Boccia walked through the doors of the office one day and made an immediate first impression on me. I didn't like him. He kept telling me what to do, how to design things, to crop photos differently and to stop messing with fonts. Who the heck did he think he was? Oh, wait; he was hired as my superior. Eventually I gave in and began to see things his way, and that's still one of the best decisions I ever made. I'm not sure I would be where I am today without his help and guidance.

J. Breen Mitchell, Richard's successor, came to The Jambar with a different skill set and a passion for news. He constantly would ask why, research, investigate, make phone calls and push reporters to find the real story. He may not realize it, but it was his enthusiasm for journalism that made me want to try my hand at reporting, which over the last year I've had the opportunity to do. I have to admit I kind of like it.

Watching Josh Stipanovich and Lamar Salter jokingly fight is one of the most destructive and funny things to ever hit The Jambar office and has been a highlight of this past year. They've really added a "hole" new dynamic to the newsroom. Lamar's sarcastic, cynical personality always leaves you guessing as to whether or not he's serious and fits well with my sense of humor. Josh's "intense" but playful persona is almost too much to handle at times, especially if you're a wall. No matter how many times Lamar says "stop trying to be my friend," I'd like to think that one day he'll admit that we are. Aside from all the fun, both have the ability to be serious and get the job done when called upon. They leave me confident that The Jambar is in good hands for the next academic year.

The first time Chelsea Pflugh met me I allegedly told her to "shutup." I don't deny it, as it's something I would likely say, but I also don't remember it. She said she thought I didn't like her, but she eventually got to know my personality and realized it was all in good fun. We've spent a lot of time together developing many inside jokes, making fun of anything and everything Lamar does, typing to each other in all caps, singing on car rides, talking as loud as possible in public, sneaking off to get breakfast at Arby's, constantly hanging out with Lamar on the weekends and oh, yeah, covering, interviewing, writing, calling, filming and managing the staff. You have been there the whole time, pushing me and rewarding me with trips to the Candy Counter for motivation. Because of you it has been one of my best years on staff and at YSU altogether.

Brian Cetina has been with me since the beginning. We both started on the same day as design editors and have held on as long as we could to our cushy Jambar jobs. I'd like to talk about some of the inside jokes that Brian and I share, but they're too inside and mostly not fit for print. Regardless, we've stuck it out through some major and minor staff changes and live to tell the tale to Jambar staffers from now and into the future. I hope you are successful at the Lima News and if you get to meet the cast of "Glee," please get me some autographs, or at least Rachel's phone number. Just remember, I have a lot of respect for you, even though we both know that I am way better at my job.

Through the ups and downs, slow news days, breaking news chaos and love triangles, the staff over the years has always been close, and I thank everyone for being there through all of it. I couldn't imagine surviving college without you all.

Though many of my Jambar memories will forever be indexed through photos and status updates on Facebook, the same medium that brought me to this office in the first place, they will always be a part of me as each experience and person that I've met and worked with along the way has shaped me into the student, journalist and professional that I am today.

I will never regret my decision to come to Youngstown State University. Once a Penguin, always a Penguin, but above all, a Jambar staffer for life.