Baylor’s fiscal issues are affecting far more than the dollar amount you see in BearWeb. It is fundamentally changing our university and what makes Baylor, Baylor. It’s hitting departments, retirement and, on a personal level, The Lariat’s newsroom.

Flirting involves overthinking a like on an Instagram story. It’s noticing who views your story first and what that might mean. It’s going through someone’s TikTok reposts, trying to understand how they think, or if there’s something they’re trying to say about you without actually saying it.

It’s funny how the smallest things can make an impression on us. And across nine semesters at The Lariat, there have been plenty. I’ll miss late-night Andy’s runs, traveling to cover the biggest Baylor sporting events, shooting hoops in the newsroom and even waking up before 6 a.m. to rush over to campus to deliver papers. Above all else, I’ll miss the people in the newsroom whose voices constantly make me smile.

The next time you want to complain about Waco, remember that there is a lot of beauty here. You’re not living in a desert or driving three hours to reach the nearest airport. There are plenty of hidden gems to discover in Waco — you just have to discover and appreciate them.