Graphic by Noemi Gonzalez.This little blog post is the last thing I’ll ever write for the the State Press. It feels appropriate that despite the often more than 3,000-word features I’ve written, this one last piece of me gets to be a casual, mere fragment of what the State Press offers as a glorious whole.
Reminiscing becomes an unavoidable joy and curse when only a matter of days stands before a college graduation. Just like every other student who’s contributed to a school publication, I find myself tracing the journey, the ups and downs, the follies and triumphs that have somehow forged the writer I am today. Honestly, I’m still getting to know her.
I’ve written for the State Press since I was a freshman. Thank you to everyone, from family to strangers, who has given me feedback on anything that’s been published. The only thing more helpful than positive reinforcement is candid criticism. For what it’s worth, this final semester has truly been my favorite. I’ve been able to explore new friendships, hobbies and yes, music, that used to appear just beyond my reach.
College has been the best years of my life. The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication is the greatest school in world. Bits of wisdom teachers have shared with me will eternally pop into my head every time I open up my laptop to click some keys. I’m still learning, but I’ve learned so much.
Oh, I guess this is supposed to be about music. There’s that too. In a couple of weeks, I make the raw and very unglamorous road trip with my mom from Arizona to Wisconsin. (There is nothing in that horizontal stretch of Kansas. Nothing.) You know what that means—it’s playlist time.
Here’s what I’ll be listening to. The mix is about as uncertain as my thoughts, and coincidentally, this new life that facelessly mocks me. Maybe there’s a track you can relate to. But maybe it’s the uncertainty.
“Goddess” by BANKS
“Banshee” by letlive.
“Sing to the Mountain” by Elephant Revival
“Built to Roam” by Shakey Graves
“We Are Born and We Die” by Sons of an Illustrious Father
"Skeleton" by The Front Bottoms
“Two Fingers” by Jake Bugg
“Could It Be Another Change” by The Samples
“Lost Queen” by Pharrell Williams
Thanks, everyone.
Isabelle
Reach the blogger at inovak@asu.edu or on Twitter @IsabelleNovak.
