I didn’t join the Daily Bruin to make friends.

Wait, ew – that sounds so aggressive. I didn’t mean it like that.

I meant that, objectively, I applied to The Bruin at the beginning of my freshman year because I thought it was an essential move for my career. I spent all of high school trying to make sense of my passions for acting and writing until I eventually decided that my ultimate calling was entertainment journalism. I admired The Bruin’s work and I figured the job would shape me into a top-tier reporter.

Four years later, I can confidently say I was correct about that part. I am a far better writer, editor and overall communicator today because of the lessons I learned at this publication.

And yet, when I think about the very best things I got out of this organization, my journalistic growth is not even remotely close to the top of the list.

My priorities have shifted in the time since I first got here. Right now, all I can think about are my friends.

Starting out at The Bruin, I remember how nice it felt simply to have other students to talk about Letterboxd, “Succession” and Swiftgron with. But as time went on, those connections grew so much deeper. In my second year, as an assistant Arts editor, I formed two of the most important relationships of my college experience.

One night, at a dining table with Talia Sajor and Sanjana Chadive, I felt a palpable shift from coworkers to friends. I was understood by these women and endlessly inspired by them. They were how I wanted to spend all my time.

Work got easier as we got closer. So when I was eventually promoted and tasked with hiring assistant editors of my own, I immediately knew what my guiding values were. I recruited Natalie Ralston, Eric Sican and Reid Sperisen not only because of their vast skillset but also because I thought we’d get along.

That was the understatement of the century.

I look back on my third year at UCLA as my absolute favorite, largely because it was the year I spent alongside those three as an official team. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to articulate the extent to which they changed me for the better as both a leader and person. They are unbelievably smart, kind and innovative. I never laugh harder than I do when we’re all together.

Beyond our strength as a team, I really credit my Arts family for breaking me out of my shell. They helped me build the self-confidence to step outside my bubble and find more of my closest friendships with staffers from other sections. From that point on, Kerckhoff 118 became far more than an office – it was the place I went when I wanted to see someone I loved.

Any former or current Daily Bruin editor who is not in denial will admit that this organization can very easily take over your life. I came close to allowing it complete power on multiple occasions, but it was ultimately my friends who kept me sane. I feel so grateful that I was far more often consumed by the joy of the Bruin’s community than the stress of its work.

But I also did my work – and I did it pretty well – for the record. I actually led 2024-25’s Best Overall Section – not that it matters or anything.

With all of that in mind, I had a tiny crisis last spring when I realized I wouldn’t be an editor anymore. The Daily Bruin had become such an integral part of my social life and career path. I thought I entered my flop era.

I thought wrong.

Last summer, I got my childhood dream job as a Universal Studios tour guide, and I realized I might like entertainment a little bit more than journalism. I’m indecisive, sue me.

More importantly, I realized the people of the Daily Bruin exist outside of this organization. Even as my time in the office lessened in my fourth year, my friends were always around – whether at Disneyland, Barney’s Beanery or my hometown Chili’s. And I know they’ll be around after graduation, too.

Evidently, I got something much different out of this newspaper than I expected. But it was better than anything I ever dreamed of. There are far too many angels to name, but thank you specifically to Talia, Graciana, Dannela, Sanjana, Natalie, Eric, Reid, Megan, Martin, Alicia, Isabel, Shaun and Helen for shaping my time.

I’ve been a very lucky girl.

Munck was a 2025-26 Arts senior staffer. She was previously the 2024-25 Arts editor and a 2023-24 Arts assistant editor.