Letter from the Editor: My Last Day

Today I await anxiously for 10am tomorrow when I will finally line up to receive the hard-earned fruit of all my labors: a college degree. That is not to say that I toiled bitterly for this opportunity, but I did rise to the occasion and I have overcome quite a few challenges. This is my moment. This is my victory! I share this victory with my family, my friends, and all of you. I did not come this far alone nor by my own power alone. It was through love, friendship, prayer, and grace that has pushed me over the finish line. At this time, I await eagerly a couple more grades to see my final GPA. I am proud to say that I have surpassed my goal of graduating cum laude, even without the 6 incoming credits. Not only am I getting an Associates degree in Liberal Arts, I am also receiving a micro-credential in EMT.

With graduation comes saying goodbye to The Crier. If there is one thing I could say that I did alone, for the most part, it was this. For the past two out of the three semesters, I have been alone in this project. Not totally alone, but I have done practically all of the footwork. As I look back on it, I don't mind. Yes, I wish I could have had more folks send in their work. I wish I could have had more articles to review and edit, which would have required more helping hands. Still, this is my own legacy here at Corning Community College. My work will be archived and hopefully someone 30 or 40 years from now will re-discover my work. Maybe they will be carrying on the work I started in 2024. I can't imagine what that will look like but it will happen. Naturally, it is bittersweet to say goodbye to The Crier. I certainly leave it better than how it was handed to me. Therefore, I hand it off to the next set of students with the hopes that they will build upon what I am leaving behind.

It was my pleasure serving as the President of the club (yes, technically it is a club) and as the Editor-in-Chief for the past three semesters. I had a whole heck ton of fun producing The Crier Podcast. I didn't do too well with the Instagram page but someone with more social media talent can build upon that. I tried! I've never been good with social media anyway. It was worth my time and effort. It was worth it despite some frustrations. It will be some of my best memories. From here, I go on to be an EMT-B. Maybe one day I will be back for another micro-credential, perhaps Paramedic. If that were to happen maybe I will be back at the helm of The Crier, or at least as a veteran member. Either way, my passion for the school newspaper will never diminish.

To the future team: I wish you all the best in carrying on what I leave to you. I hope you take this and run a great distance with it! It is yours to do as you wish. With that being said I have take the liberty to set you up for success if you want to continue in the direction I started. I have already created a Fall 2025 issue for you and a new section for Fall 2025 Podcasts. Again, only if you want it. Change it if you don't. I can't express enough how important it is to utilize the enthusiasm that now surrounds The Crier. I felt that my reach was severely limited as I am only one person but there is there is team, then the reach of The Crier and the variety could be far beyond what I could have produced. There is a new president coming! Dr. Wohlers is a great supporter! The Diversity Center needs an outlet! Student Government needs more reach! There are golden opportunities if you know where to look and have the courage (and time) to chase after them.

Anyway, thank you all for your support and enthusiasm. I will miss CCC, The Crier, and all my friends. You were the best and these were good times. I leave you all with the final stanza of one of my favorite songs, Driven, by Rush:

"The road unwinds towards me

What was there is gone

The road unwinds before me

And I go riding on."

With Unfathomable Gratitude,

Joshua Donescoss