Final Goodbyes

by Dorian Pacheco

The English blog closes for summer as of today…thanks to the whole community of contributors, readers, and English-lovers for making this such a great year.  Here’s a farewell post from Dorian P. whom you can thank for making sure EVERY post got onto the blog this year.  Thanks, Dorian.  Dr. Brassard will take over the blog with a new crop of student-editors come fall.  Have a great summer!

Boxes are packed, books are sold, and goodbyes have been said. Another year is over. I don’t remember too much about my initial arrival at the University of Portland aside from vague twinges of nervousness and sweaty palms. I wasn’t sure whether I had made the right choice in school or major, and I was a thousand miles away from home.

Fast-forward a couple months. I have realized that I am more in love with life and literature than I ever thought possible, that I have my heart set on the English major, that the University of Portland is the place for me. Central to my realizations was my involvement with the English Department; my English classes with Dr. Orr, meeting fellow majors, interacting with professors, and working on the blog.

The year has been tumultuous and stressful. I’ve cried out of sheer desperation more times than I am willing to admit. But like every year and every new chapter of my life, it has been breathtakingly beautiful, a catalyst projecting me forward as I grow and change. I guess after everything is over and all has been said (or unsaid) and done, all I would really like to say is thank you – thank you to the blog readers for reading, to Dr. Hiro for being a crazy-cool Department Head and taking me on, to all the editors and contributors.

Summer is here and with it, a new chapter and set of opportunities and pitfalls and memories to make. Summer is here and goodbyes have been said – this is mine to you.