I joined The Observer mostly on a whim during the spring semester of my first year. I was sitting in a PHYS 121: General Physics I lecture in Strosacker Auditorium when a current member of the club came in to advertise that they were hiring video editors. I had run into The Observer’s booth during the Student Activities Fair, but I had also spoken to so many other clubs that everything kind of blurred together. I figured I’d apply anyway—mostly just to see what would happen. 

I ended up becoming the third member of a blossoming digital media team, editing videos shot by the other two members—and occasionally featuring other volunteers from the rest of the Editorial Board. These videos included Ouija readings, cooking tutorials and some of the first editions of Tink Tunes.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that video editing wasn’t really my thing. I liked being part of the team, but spending hours cutting and arranging video clips in the basement of Thwing Center wasn’t very fun. By the time my second year rolled around, the previous photo editor had graduated, and I applied for the position. I had experience with Photoshop, but my familiarity with cameras was limited to occasionally helping to film videos in the previous semester. 

At first, I had no clue what I was doing, and I actually missed our first production night because Slack had accidentally been deleted from my phone. There was a learning curve, but I really appreciated the opportunity to develop my photography skills while contributing to campus journalism. As photo editor, I found myself covering a wide range of events, from local concerts to student protests. What started as an uncertain venture soon became one of my most rewarding college experiences. I learned not just technical skills but also the ability to use design to tell visual stories and collaborate with the rest of the newspaper to bring articles to life. 

But beyond the camera work, what really made The Observer special were the people and the moments that took place outside of production nights. One of my most memorable moments was when a group of us traveled to San Diego for a journalism conference. Between the long nights spent at airports, walks to nearby stores for snacks and time spent during conference sessions, we created memories that remain some of my most cherished ones from college. There’s something special about sharing Trader Joe’s snacks at midnight around a hotel pool fireplace with people who started as colleagues but became friends—a connection that began with a random decision and evolved into one of the defining experiences of my time at university.

As I prepare to say goodbye to The Observer and Case Western Reserve University, I find myself reflecting on how a random decision in a physics lecture hall shaped so much of my college experience. The skills I’ve developed, both technical and interpersonal, will accompany me into my future life and career. Though I’m stepping away from production nights and InDesign, the lessons surrounding storytelling and collaboration from capturing moments will remain. Looking back, I’m grateful for that random decision in Strosacker Auditorium. It didn’t just give me a role in a newspaper; it gave me friendships, skills and memories that have helped shape who I’ve become during these transformative college years.