When I first started my internship at The Clarkston News, I had no idea what to expect.
I had heard the phrase ‘carrying coffee? so many times when internships were mentioned that I assumed it to be a truthful description of them.
However, I’ve come to find out how wrong that stereotype can be.
This internship has taught me more than I ever imagined about news writing and my community.
It has also shown me how much goes on in my hometown on a daily basis and how much time goes into each and every event.
I have been incredibly lucky to have this experience.
There hasn’t been a single event that I’ve written about that didn’t fascinate me. Every single person that I’ve interviewed for my articles has been friendly, intelligent, and open about their experiences, which made it easy for me to learn from them.
The staff here has been very willing to help and give me assignments to give me hands-on experience with journalism. I hope to be as dedicated and knowledgeable as they are in my future career.
As sad as I am to be leaving The Clarkston News, I will be returning to University of Michigan-Flint in a couple of weeks with a very real sense of what goes into reporting.
I have also gained a better appreciation for my community.
The things that I’ve learned through this internship will certainly follow me through my classes.
I’m sure these things will give me real-life experience with what I am taught in school.
Having one year left in school, I am feeling more ready than ever to graduate and make journalism my full-time job.
I would like to thank everyone that has worked with me, both the staff at the news and those that I’ve interviewed.
You have all honestly been too helpful for words and I appreciate the opportunities you have all given me.

It’s moving time once again for my family and I.
Change seems to get easier the more times you go through it. This move has been stirring memories of our first major move three years ago.
The first time we moved was from Clarkston to Laguna Beach, Calif., three years ago.
Being 17 at the time, the move was pretty traumatic for me.
I had lived in Clarkston for the majority of my life at that point. It felt like the end of the world to me and I never imagined that I would be happy again. Starting over completely is a very scary experience.
I spent the first five months mourning the loss of my life in Michigan.
My days consisted of going to school and coming home, with not much in between. My social life only seemed to exist on the internet and over the phone.
Things didn’t change until I got my first job at a smoothie shop. It was there that I met my first official friend, Kristin.
Kristin invited me to many of the group activities she took part in and showed me some of the cooler places in California.
Much to my surprise, I began to enjoy myself and my new life in California. It had taken me six months, but I had finally learned to embrace change.
When my mom received a better job offer back in good old Clarkston a year later, it was bittersweet news for me.
It was the return that I had hoped for at the beginning of the year, but at a time where I had changed so much.
I was sad to say good-bye to all of the people I had met and the fun times that I had there, but happy to say hello to my old friends from Michigan when I returned.
As I sit here, two years after my move from California, I am a different person.
I’m facing a much smaller move, as this move will simply be down the street. Even so, I will be moving out of the house that I’ve lived in since I was nine (besides, the year I lived in California).
Yet, I’ve learned to embrace change. I’ve learned that it doesn’t matter what happens in life or how much you lose, there will always be happiness somewhere around the corner.

My, oh my? how the years fly.
I came to the realization the other day that I am a mere month away from turning the notable age of 21.
I remember being told as a child that every year would seem to fly faster and faster.
Of course, at the time, I didn’t think anything of that tidbit of advice. I lived in the moment and couldn’t be bothered with thoughts of the future.
As I sit here years later, however, I’ve come to realize that those words are not very far from the truth.
It’s easy to get caught up in the many roles we play. What begins as the life of a student and child can quickly become the life of a worker, friend, lover, and parent.
As the laundry list of life becomes longer, it’s no wonder relaxing and enjoying the moment becomes so difficult. Even so, I think it’s something we should all strive to do.
Whether your moment involves listening to music while watching a sunset or a picnic with family, it’s these simple things that remind us how good life is.
Seizing these moments helps us to step back and take a deep breath. Plus, at the end of the day, these moments refresh and prepare us for the next challenge in life.
How could we possibly drive our cars through life if we never took a moment to take them into the shop? Like our bodies, the car would eventually break down.
It’s for this reason that we need those moments to breathe. They help replenish the mind and body.
Isn’t it funny how something as simple as a birthday can be so thought-provoking? It doesn’t have to be a mile-stone birthday to make you look at life.
Yet, these thoughts can be applied to everyone. As clich? as it may sound, perhaps we should all take time to stop and ‘smell the roses? in life.
In the blur that we call life, take extra time to enjoy that double-chocolate cake or barefoot walk in the grass.
Savor every moment.
You deserve it.