Graduation!!

I'm super excited to finally say that on December 13th, 2019, I graduated from Colorado Mesa University with a 4.0 BA in Mass Communication: Media Strategies & Applications!

I'm beyond proud to have graduated alongside such amazing people, especially from the Mass Comm program and the Maverick Stampede. You all are the ones who helped me create lasting memories throughout my time in college, and I learned so much from all of you. (And of course I've already gone on an emotional rant about the end of my marching career at my band blog.)

And The Criterion! I'm going to miss that little campus newspaper so much. I already wrote it all in my farewell article, but I'll say it again: thank you guys for the experience and the friendship.

I wouldn't be walking away with the knowledge and confidence that I have without my professors — both in my degree program and outside of it. Thank you for not only giving me encouragement when I did well, but for pushing and challenging me when you knew I could do better. You taught me the curriculum, but you also taught me growth.

The university itself, along with various partners and organizations, also helped me financially through scholarships and grants, and helped me forge my path forward with counseling and advising. I'm so grateful to be an alum of such an incredible school.

And none of this would have happened without Colorado State University, where I spent my first year of college. To the CSU instructors and students, the Arts & Culture staff at The Collegian, and the CSU Marching Band, my time with you was the launchpad to my future.

To Horizon Magazine, the CMU Literary Review, Rocky Mountain PBS, and all the other publications where I gained valuable experience, I wouldn't have the skills and insight to jump headfirst into my career without you.

And lastly, I wouldn't even be here without my family and friends. Your support — in too many ways to count — was what got me here in the first place. I'm so, so thankful that you were here (either in person or in spirit) to see me reach this lifelong goal, and I hope you know that you're the reason I made it.

Wow, that ended up sounding like an Oscars speech, lol! But I'll admit, seeing this post run so long fills me with joy, because it shows just how many people helped me in so many profound ways. This degree is probably the greatest accomplishment of my life so far and I take immense pride in that, but I certainly didn't get here alone.

What an incredible journey it's been. I can't wait to see what lies ahead. 

Noah Stahlecker for The Criterion