By Matthew Laurrie
Opinion Editor
Saying goodbye to my BV byline is not going to be easy.
If the walls of The Bona Venture could talk, I’m sure they’d tell you I sing a disturbing amount of Beyoncé, say words that would make Sister Margaret cringe, cry a lot and snore even more. Within the confines of Rob 111, I’ve made it no secret that the editors of the BV are doing the Lord’s work – one fluffy features article and hastily written news story at a time. But I’m sure those walls would also tell you that I’ve grown up a lot since they first met me three years ago.
During the past six semesters, I’ve had the opportunity to work with and learn from some of the best student-journalists on campus. During the past six semesters, I’ve (sometimes begrudgingly) spent more than sixty Wednesday nights and Thursday mornings in our menagerie of a newsroom. During the past six semesters and throughout my five different editorial positions at the BV, I’ve written countless stories, laid dozens of pages, made unforgettable memories and questioned my sanity again and again. During the past six semesters, I’ve become a Bonnie.
I’m going to avoid making this senior editorial sound like an incoherent, flustered mess of an acceptance speech a la Mariah Carey at the 2010 Palm Springs International Film Festival (YouTube it, and thank me after you’ve watched it for the thirty-first time). So before they cue the music, let me just offer my appreciation to a few fabulous friends.
Elizabeth Grady, you’re the reason I’m a part of the BV. And Alexandra Salerno, you’re the reason I stayed. Thank you both for being my forever friends. Our unconventional, unconditional love for each other makes me happier than anything.
Kerri Linsenbigler, we reigned supreme as the sassiest feature editors in BV history. You’re one of my besties, but don’t call me honey.
To all of my other friends and fellow BV editors – Heather Monahan, Kyle Zamiara, Sam Berkhead, Taylor Nigrelli, Nate West and Kevin Rogers – each one of you has helped me realize why Bonaventure is so special, and I’ll be forever grateful for the crazy moments we’ve shared. Together, we took a bite out of Bonaventure.
And to the BV readership, thank you for reading my words. Whether you passionately agreed or fervently disagreed with my liberal tirades, I’m fortunate you cared enough about what I wrote to even form an opinion. I also hope my hard-hitting features on holiday traditions and campus clubs kept you entertained and informed. I live for the moments I see you pick up an issue of our newspaper.
The Bona Venture has become a part of who I am. I hope that I have, in some way beyond word counts and wall quotes, become a part of it too. I know for certain that the BV has been one of the most integral, rewarding parts of my Bonaventure experience, and although I’m ready to move on, I’ll always remember it as an awesome adventure.
Bonaventure truly is Heaven on Earth, and that sentiment is in no small part due to my time at the BV. I may be a completely different person today than I was when I first stepped inside the Bona Bubble, but Bonaventure has remained the same extraordinary place I’ve always known it to be. And that is just perf.
