“Ready to go?”

As I climb into my 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Thursday night, that very phrase will ring in my head over and over. Forty miles down, forty miles back, on the way to the Concord Monitor, I can hear that phrase. It isn’t anyone in particular, but it’s something that I have heard from peers, coworkers, and friends in each new step that I took when becoming the Editor-in-Chief for this very newspaper two years ago.

The first time I heard it was the second week of my freshman year, when the current Editor-in-Chief walked with me into the Clock office. He knew I was nervous to be in a room full of college journalists, and being just a freshman, he did everything he could to welcome me and make sure I was comfortable. I had noideawhatIwasinfor,butIwas excited to be a part of something real.

“Ready to go?”

Libby Barden, the news editor in 2014, asked me as I walked out to her car. We were on our way to Philadelphia for the Associated Collegiate Press Convention. I indeed, was not ready to go, with my bags half-packed. But we left, and when I got back, I fwas asked to be the new sports editor. Astonished, I took the position and I’m almost positive that I shook every editor’s hand when I got accepted. Eric Brill, the sports editor whose position I took, always asked if I was ready for each hockey game he attended, and showed me around, introduced me to the players and coaches, and brought me down on to the ice.

“Ready to go?”

One of the editors asked me, moments before I walked into the office

fall semester of my sophomore year. I was seconds away to pitching the editors as to why I would be fit as the newest Editor-in-Chief. I wore two shirts that day, because I had already sweat through the first, but I went in confidently, and walked out with the position. The following semester, I would be asked if I was ready to write some of the most important articles of my life; presidential campaigns, administrative situations, and the loss of fellow friends and students on campus. Difficult as it was, I became more and more ready to tackle what this job was to become.

As I take part in my last print writing for this newspaper, I’m not sure if I am ready to go. Everything that I have done for the last two years has circled around this print, and making sure that anyone who picks it up is satisfied. I know that, in turn, those who I leave behind will be able to hold this paper together, and if they work hard enough, should be able to make it better than it ever was.

Lindsey, you’ve been one kick-ass A&E editor. To be honest, I have never met anyone more creative or laid back. Just having you around in the office has kept my sanity, cracking jokes and writing some of the coolest articles. Sam, I’m glad that you had the opportunity to take on the news editor role. You always seem to find stories that nobody else can, and you do it all on your own. I pray that you can find two or three other writers, so that section can get bigger than it ever has. Jordan, I honestly don’t think that there’s anyone else I have fought in that office with more about different ideas, but it’s always in good fun. It’s hard to believe it’s been over a year since I begged you to join the paper in our British literature class, and I couldn’t be happier that I did.

To Jack, the weirdest and funniest guy I know, I couldn’t have been