First things first

In my attempt to keep pace with the journalistic profession as well as compile a kind of digital portfolio of my writings, I decided to venture into the somewhat scary world of ‘blogs. So to get things started–although it’s nearly a month ago now–it seemed appropriate to make this first post about all things graduation.

In early May I graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Robert E. Cook Honors at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. During my undergraduate career I played alto sax in IUP’s amazing marching band, wrote for The Penn (IUP’s student newspaper), was parliamentarian of Phi Sigma Pi and an IUP Ambassador. My senior year I wrote as a stringer for the Tribune-Review covering the Indiana area, a position that earned me a nickname with one of my favorite political profs.

After dragging my family to three separate ceremonies, I finally came away with two degrees, two awards–political science academic excellence and intern of the year–and a successful journalism speech at the department ceremony.

Graduation was, as always, bittersweet. I was sad to leave my roommates–truly my best friends in the whole world–and all the professors and surroundings at IUP. Then again, I was excited to head back to the Capitol in Harrisburg and dive back into the craziness that is Pennsylvania state politics.