In my final cross country race of my high school career, I crossed the finish line an emotional wreck. I left a huge tear stain on my dad’s DeKalb Barbs pullover as I sobbed into his chest, knowing my favorite sport that I spent four years pouring my heart and soul into was officially over.

Although I haven’t ran cross country at ISU, I certainly have poured my heart and soul into a similar team-oriented organization on campus throughout my four-year stint, and leaving it will undoubtedly elicit the same emotions I experienced as a high school senior.

Since my freshman year, the Daily Vidette has been my cross country, it’s been my home away from home, and it’s been the place where I poured my entire self into while attending Illinois State.

Like my cross country memories, I remember the nerves involved with writing my very first Daily Vidette sports column as a freshman, and I expect to recall the mixed emotions involved with writing this column, my final one, for years to come.

It’s hard to put my nearly 1,460 days spent working at the Vidette into a 560-word column, but I’ll do my best, and I hope along the way my fellow Redbird seniors who are reading this can relate and similarly reflect on their favorite ISU moments.

Thinking back on it, I truly experienced my best and worst days in the brick building on the corner of Locust and University Street. But for me, the good articles surpass the bad ones; the best memories outshine the crappy ones; and the laughs outweigh the tears.

Besides the amazing amount of work experience and job perks (kissing the Stanley Cup, going to Madison Square Garden, sitting courtside at ISU basketball games, etc.), the best thing the Vidette provided me were the relationships I made.

I met one of my best friends (and current co-editor) Emily Warner when she opened the door for me on our first day at the Vidette. I got to know another good friend and two-year roommate Alyssa Siegele (current Editor-in-Chief) when we sat just desks away from each other every day.

I learned countless life lessons from DV sports editor legends Scott Gleeson and Tony Andracki. I watched an embarrassing amount of YouTube videos with night staffers (who don’t get nearly enough credit for the work they do) while waiting for late-night games to end. I shared gut-wrenching laughs with numerous editorial staff members and editors.

I had the pleasure of sharing a workspace with talented professional staff members Rick Jones, Erika Wilkerson, and Eli Wrightam. And I was able to get to know amazing coaches, athletes, and media relations folks while covering the Redbirds.

More importantly, though, I became the soon-to-be-college graduate I am today because of my time spent writing and editing for the newspaper you are reading right now.

I can’t even begin to say how thankful I am for the Daily Vidette. I am so blessed to have worked for a place that allowed me to chase my passion every day, make mistakes and learn from them, and teach me life lessons a classroom never could.

My time at the Vidette, and attending Illinois State, has truly been the best years of my life, so thanks to those who were able to make it forever memorable.

This is Ashley Schrader signing off, you stay classy ISU.