A goodbye letter written by Former Editor-In-Chief Sabria Davis

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I arrived at Radford not entirely sure of who I was or what I wanted to be, but I knew I wanted something more for myself, more than what I would have gotten had I stayed back home being lost.

In the years that followed, I found it all through long and tiring nights, important life lessons, small and big victories, and the quiet but powerful resilience it takes to grow into yourself without anyone there to guide you.

Radford University game me a space to become, and I used every inch of that damn space proudly.

I poured my entire self into getting this degree, all the while building a life here for myself. I built it all, brick by brick, one connection after another. There are so many pieces of me around this campus: Resident Assistant Bria for the Housing Department, Editor-In-Chief Bria from Highlander Student Media, Ambassador Bria for the College of Humanities and Behavioral Science, former Peer Academic Coach Bria for the Highlander Student Success Center, former executive member for the Asian Pop Culture club and Chinese club in Student Involvement. Heck, I’m even a former worker at Papa John’s and Wendy’s for on-campus dining.

There are so many versions of me around at this school, and it’s sad to say that come May 10th, all these versions of me will no longer exist. I won’t have those hats anymore.

Because of all those hats, I got the honor of listening and experiencing. Radford isn’t perfect, and probably will never be. There are so many things that need fixing, healing, and changing. But I’m proud of how far we’ve come and grateful that Radford let me leave my mark on it. Even if not everyone sees it.

To those I met here, thank you, and I appreciate you. For challenging me to grow and be better, holding me up when I put too much pressure on my back, and letting me be human even when I’m difficult. You became my family, and it hurts to leave something I built with so much care.

But I’m not walking away empty-handed. I’m walking forward, into the unknown, yes, but also into something I now know I can shape.

Because I did it here.

So I can do it again wherever I land in this world, thanks to you.

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