Saying goodbye has always been harder for me than saying hello.

The words themselves come out easily enough – the “Thanks for coming in!” when designers finish their shifts, the “Drive back safe!” while being dropped off after retreats or Design socials and the “Great work tonight,” murmured after a grueling late run.

It’s the questions left unsaid that weigh me down.

Will I see you tomorrow? In a month? Ever?

Having seen four generations of Daily Bruin staffers graduate, I struggle to keep track of the number of friends whom I’ve seen leave this organization, from the original Design directors who hired me in my first fall quarter to my fellow seniors who are leaving me behind to explore new worlds.

The weight of all these goodbyes is something I’ve subconsciously been aware of but never had to process until now.

So let’s use this column to fix that.

This is my attempt at a graceful goodbye – maybe a bit late for some, maybe a bit early for others, but I hope it’s one that does justice to the multitude of memories the past four years have given me.

To Lauren, Benny and Rachel, the ones who started me on this track – if you’re reading this, please know your decision to hire me was the spark that led to so many hours in Kerckhoff 118. Thank you for the constant encouragement and invitations to contribute that got me hooked on this section all that time ago.

To Maya, Tang and Helen, my original director team – this being the first year that none of you are here, I can say that DB just isn’t the same without the three of you lighting up the office. Thank you for your infinite patience in putting up with my many mistakes and for being a family that was my comfort in the new world that was editorship.

To Mia, Isabel and Lindsey, my middle generation of peers – you all have pushed me to try things that colored my undergraduate experience in so many unique ways. All of the outings, from the crazy drinks at the Rainforest Cafe to skimboarding on the beaches of Oxnard, will be dearly missed.

To Shrey, Crystal, Katie, Rachel and Karina, the ones whom I’ve had the privilege of getting to know and work alongside this year – I retire with full confidence that the future of our section is bright. I know that there will be many things to cherish in the year to come, so rather than a thank you, I leave y’all with the best of luck – the Lord knows I’ve had it the past four years and I hope that you can say the same when you’re done.

And to all my other friends, whose names number too many to fit in this short column, thank you for all the memories we’ve made over the years. I will miss the shared swipes, aching laughter and competitive board games that filled my time as an editor at this paper.

To those of you who have or are graduating, please keep in touch (I’m bad at responding to texts, so please be patient with me)! For those of us who will be back in Westwood in the fall, I’ll see you in three months!

Either way, don’t let this be the last time we see each other – I’ll see you, at some point or another.

All the glory to Jesus, my Lord and Savior.

Cho was an assistant Design director 2024-2025, 2023-2024, 2022-2023, a Copy contributor 2024-2025, a Photo contributor 2024-2025 and an Online contributor 2024-2025.