Farewell letter from the editor-in-chief

As I sit in my corner spot in the Mirror office writing this letter — surrounded by the fairy lights and numerous lamps, listening to the hum of the ever-running box fan — I am filled with sadness, but I am also beyond proud. 

One of the hardest things to say goodbye to as I graduate is this newspaper. If you know me at all, you probably know that I love this paper and being its editor-in-chief and sports editor. Working with the Mirror has been the highlight of my time at Augustana.

I started with the publication fresh out of high school, brought on to the core staff as a freshman to be its photographer. Jeffrey Miller, the Mirror adviser, and Janet Blank-Libra, my academic adviser and the Edda adviser, had snatched me up even before I’d even graduated high school. My first experience with the publication staff was the annual “Pancake Extravaganza” held at Janet’s house at the end of the year. Boy, was I so nervous. Looking back, that was one of the best days of my life.

If you’ve ever seen me on campus, chances are I had a camera hanging around my neck or a camera bag slung over my shoulder. For 10 years, photography has been part of who I am. At Augustana, that passion grew into something I never could have imagined. Through the Mirror, the yearbook and freelance work across campus, I have had the privilege of documenting the moments that make this community special.

Photography allowed me to experience Augustana differently. I got to stand on the sidelines during championship moments, celebrate student achievements and witness pieces of people’s lives that I otherwise may never have known. Behind every photo was a story, and being trusted to capture those stories is something I will always be grateful for.

Looking back now, it’s funny to think about how nervous I was walking into Janet’s house that day. Not long after, journalism and photography became my entire world.

To my staff: Thank you for trusting me to lead this paper. Thank you for the late nights in the newsroom and the frantic deadline days, for the laughs shared between edits and the willingness to always show up for each other. Thank you for caring.

Student journalism is not easy. It takes time, energy and heart, and somehow this staff gave all three over and over again. Every story written, every photo taken and every page designed mattered because of the people behind it.

Some of my favorite memories from college happened in this office — arguing over headlines, celebrating after putting an issue to bed, running on caffeine and stress during production nights and somehow still laughing through all of it. The Mirror became more than a publication to me. It became a home.

To Jeffrey and Janet: Thank you for believing in me before I even stepped onto this campus. You gave me opportunities that shaped not only my college experience but the person I have become. I would not be where I am today without your guidance, patience and constant support.

To those whose stories I’ve had the privilege to tell: Thank you for trusting me. Every athlete, student, professor, coach and member of this campus community helped shape both this newspaper and me as a storyteller. Some of the most meaningful moments of my college career happened while standing on a sideline with a camera in my hands or sitting across from someone and hearing about what matters most to them. Your stories deserved to be told, and I’m grateful I got to be the one to tell them.

And to this newspaper: Thank you.

Thank you for the friendships, the opportunities, the lessons and the purpose. Thank you for teaching me how to lead, how to listen and how to tell stories that matter. Thank you for giving the girl with the camera a place to belong.

Leaving this behind is heartbreaking, but I know the Mirror will continue to thrive because of the people in this office and the passion they bring to it every single day.

So, for the final time, this is Ryleigh Tupper signing off.