I am a journalist.

As journalists, a mantra is drilled into our heads from the minute we decide to join this lifestyle (yes, it is a lifestyle): your audience doesn’t care about what you think; they care about themselves.

Yet, here I am, writing a column (which no one really cares about), my farewell column, no less.

Hi. My name is Farhin Lilywala, and I am the Editor-in-Chief of the Collegian.

I have said, typed and even thought this phrase over the last year more times than I can remember.

This year has been the most memorable year of my life to date, not because I got to have a swanky office with two Mac monitors (which was awesome), but because I worked with a range of such awesome personalities that no combination of 26 letters could do justice.

To the students and faculty of GPC, this paper would not have been possible without you. You are our audience, and you are our sources. This paper starts and ends with you. Thank you for your support this year, and thank you for allowing the paper to grow.

To all of the Collegian writers and contributors, thank you for working so hard to make this paper the best this school has seen. Thank you for constantly putting forth the effort to grow and make a difference in your school and community. Keep being awesome.

To Jack Lester, congratulations! As the next Editor-in-Chief, this is your problem now (“oh oookay”). Thank you for stepping up to plate and sharing your vision for the Collegian with the rest of the world. This paper will do wonders with your leadership. I’m always on call, so I got you. Do well, but be good.

To Tosin Ogunnoiki, photo editor, photographer, director, and whatever extra title you want, thank you for always being dependable. I have called, texted and emailed you so many times, and yet, you always reply. You have such potential; just don’t be afraid to screw things up. That’s how you’ll learn and become great.

To Naya Clark, Dunwoody liaison and managing editor, you’re awesome. You know how to work with a team and maintain your own personality. Keep being you. Explore your writing abilities more next semester and become even better than you are right now. Good luck!

To Ben Abrams, sports editor or Uncle Ben (as Jack says), you have grown leaps and bounds from the day I met you. You are a great writer and a great person. Even with GPC not having sports next semester, I know you’ll do great. Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself. You can do it.

To Joseph Richardson, Mr. President himself, you’re incredible. Your writing has progressed so much, just within the last few months. You continue to amaze me with the way you handle words and yourself. Continue to grow and help the Collegian grow.

To Alice Murray, adviser and sounding board, thank you for all of your help this past year. I wouldn’t have been able to do it by myself. Thank you for believing in the Collegian, and thank you for believing in me. Place the same faith you had in me in Jack, and he will do wonders for the paper.

To Matthew Robison, Dean of Students Affairs (Clarkston, now Dunwoody), thank you for supporting the paper and me this past year. All of our accomplishments would not have been possible without you backing us up and cheering us on. The students at Dunwoody don’t know how great they have it.

The Collegian is the official student-run publication of GPC. For the short time that GPC remains and even after the consolidation, consider joining the Collegian.

If at any point this semester you have thought that we weren’t representing the voices of the GPC student body to the best of our abilities, please join and help the Collegian become better.

For the last time,

Farhin Lilywala,
Editor-in-Chief of the GPC Collegian