I kind of joined the Hawks Herald by accident. I made eye contact with the person manning the table at my freshman year involvement fair, and rather than walking away awkwardly, I approached the table to pick up some free swag. That started a conversation which led to my involvement in the school newspaper.

I could probably count on one hand the number of meetings I actually attended. Cross–country and track practices were at the same time, and that involvement could not be done remotely. Luckily, the E-Board of the Hawks Herald was gracious enough to let me continue writing from wherever I could. 

Sometimes writing came easily. In my time here, I’ve shared my unsolicited opinions about Survivor, being a twin, class schedules, and more. Sometimes, though, writing was a chore. There were stretches of time where I disappeared from the newspaper. Life got in the way, and something that was supposed to be fun became a chore. And that’s where I come to you today, in my final piece.

Whether it’s writing, sports, or any other activity that is not a “need” becomes a chore, it’s time to give it a break. It doesn’t have to be forever. But in my opinion, an activity that is a “want” should never be forced. Of course, there is the argument to push through hard things (no, I’ve never wanted to do an insanely hard run in the middle of a humid summer day, but I do anyway). However, it’s a balance. If your “want” that used to be an escape consistently becomes a “need” that brings you stress, whether it’s due to time, ability, or passion, it’s okay to take a break. That hobby will likely be there for you when you are ready to return. I know the Hawks Herald was for me, and I’m truly grateful for that.

I want to thank anyone who has ever read my opinion. I’m a talker, often sharing my opinion with anyone around, sometimes against their will. At least here, there’s some choice, and I’m flattered people chose to read what I have to say. Even for a writing/marketing major, I’m terrible at tying a bow on these sorts of things. So I’ll just end with a goodbye. So long, thanks for all the opportunities, and all the fun in letting me pursue my passion. Bye.