By Taylor Helmes, Editor-in-Chief

Procrastination has been a common characteristic throughout my college career; this letter was no different. But now that I’ve waited until the last minute to write this, I feel as though I have more knowledge and reason to write. My time at the Bulletin has been the highlight of my college career. I’ve met incredible people that have shown me points of view that I wouldn’t know otherwise. That is the beauty of California State University, Dominguez Hills.

The students who make this campus a community are first-generation students, Dreamers, believers, all ages and who represent a true melting pot of culture. These are the same students who have been a support system for each other, for me, during the past year. 

Unfortunately, I spent more time learning and studying online than on campus since transferring in fall 2019. But fortunately, we get to return to campus one last time for graduation. I even received confirmation that Teddy the Toro will be there, albeit socially distanced and masked up. Commencement will be bittersweet, but mostly sweet. That sentiment sort of sums up my time at CSUDH. 

I’ll miss the walks across campus and running into Teddy high-fiving students and dancing. I’ll miss grabbing a coffee and studying in the library by myself. I’ll miss grabbing a hard cider at the DH Sports Lounge, a place where I happened to be when a live student jazz band played. 

But most of all, I’ll miss the Bulletin Newsroom. The corner of the third floor of the library was a safe space for journalism students to gather, talk, or write. Instead, our bedrooms or garages turned into our own little cubicles. We virtually collaborated and continued to produce award-winning stories. 

The students and team behind the Bulletin are unmatched. The time, dedication, thought, and creativity that is brought to issue is a testament to what these students are capable of. To be a part of this team, let alone lead it, has been the most rewarding opportunity of my seven years in college. 

By Darlene Maes, Managing Editor

I never thought this moment would arrive – That my seven-year journey to chase an undergrad degree would come to an end. 

The time it took to reach this moment was not ideal. For as long as I can remember, when I decided to pursue higher education I always compared my timeline to others. I would feel discouraged that my finish line kept creeping farther and farther away while others received their degrees. 

As students, we all have had to overcome our own set of obstacles, big or small. Still, I never would’ve imagined that a pandemic would have made its mark on our education at CSU Dominguez Hills, but it did and yet here we are.

We made it through this unprecedented time and for me, I couldn’t have done it without the Bulletin newspaper and the supportive professors here at CSUDH. My time here has helped prepare and motivate me to go for anything, no matter the uncertainty. More importantly, the support and hands-on production experience I’ve received from the Bulletin staff has made an impact in my life that will last forever.

I look back at the times when I thought I wouldn’t live to experience a moment like this. A moment full of hope for the future and the opportunities to come.

As a first-generation student, I share this moment with those who truly felt like giving up. Who second guess their ability to achieve or pursue something that seems bigger than themselves. I share this accomplishment with those who live their life believing they could never achieve something like this, this moment is for us.