ABIGAIL JACOBSON
News Editor
As someone who is a very emotional and sentimental person, this article will probably be the hardest thing I have ever written. I’m sitting here, in my dorm, trying to figure out how to write this.
Where do I start? Do I trauma dump? Do I take it easy and save y’all from crying hysterically? I think I should start with the day I was born.
Just kidding, but I will start from somewhere in the beginning. I grew up with three other siblings and my parents in a small town in central New York called Callicoon Center. I’ve lived here my entire life, and I’ve had so many memories, whether it be my twin sister swinging from the chandelier, my twin sister stabbing my brother with a pen, or my other sister riding rides with me at Hershey Park.
I’ve always been a family-oriented person, and when I graduated from high school, I started to be afraid that I would lose my family. I was the youngest, so my other siblings (besides my twin sister) were already living their lives, but here I was, scared to live mine.
I was so scared that I decided to go to a community college near my home to start off my college career. I knew I wouldn’t lose my family, but sadly, I did. Things happened, and I ended up moving two times in three months with two separate family members.
It was hard adjusting between living with these family members to balancing college work. There was no Thanksgiving or Christmas for my family, and as someone who was family-oriented, it hurt so much.
Things changed, though, and in 2022, I had decided to finally apply to college somewhere else.
I didn’t want a degree in just liberal arts. I wanted something big, something different.
Although I would be going somewhere different and not be near my family, this had to be done. I got into SUNY Fredonia and have been here since.
When I first got here, I was so scared. I had no family near me, and I was in a place where I had no idea where anything was. I was scared that I would be alone.
But I wasn’t alone. I became a part of a new family, the Leader family.
Cheesy, I know.
But I came to Fredonia, scared out of my mind that I was not going to have any friends and I would be alone. Luckily, I was wrong, and might I add, I’m never wrong.
I came to the Leader open house in fall of 2023 and I was shitting my pants (not literally). I was shaking in my boots and was so anxious, I thought I was going to throw up.
Thankfully, I was introduced to the News Editor at the time, Dan Quagliana.
I soon became the Assistant News Editor, and to be honest, I was still scared. I didn’t think I was going to do a good job, and I was scared I would be kicked out. Of course, no one would do that, but I was still shaking in my boots.
Since the moment I joined The Leader, I felt connected. What I mean by “connected” is that I felt comfortable enough to be myself. Usually, I don’t like to show who I am at first, mainly because I am afraid of people judging me and, to be quite frank, hating me. But joining The Leader helped me open up even more, and I’m able to be myself around them.
The Leader taught me to be myself, to be who I was and not to fear speaking my mind. I became more confident in my writing and my interviewing skills. I got so comfortable with everyone there, I felt truly at home and for once, I wasn’t scared.
I left my family to try to be someone else and to live my life. I’m happy to say I have accomplished just that and much more.
I got a new family, some of whom have graduated, some who will be walking the stage with me and some who I have to leave behind. This is another family of mine, and I’ll be honest, I don’t want to leave it behind. However, I know each and every single person will be only a text or a call away.
I want to take this opportunity and these pages to thank some special people who have helped me during my college life.
Leader Staff
I thank each and every one of you.
You all are such hard workers, and you are a joy to be around. I hope you know you are never alone and to rely on one another when you need to. Take criticism as advice to make your future pieces better, even if that criticism is someone believing you wrote something in a completely different publication.
You all shine in your own ways, and I can’t wait to see what you do next year. I am always a phone call away if you need anything, whether you need someone to talk to, how to do something in InDesign, or asking: Is this news, Abby?
You all helped me be who I am today, and I hope I helped you as much as you’ve helped me. Thank you.
Family
Thank you, Mom, Tim, Leah and Sarah. Thank you, Grandma Cindy and Grandma Donna. You all have helped me in ways that are unimaginable.
Although being up here, I haven’t called or texted often, you all have helped me strive during my time in college. Things have happened in our lives that seem unfair and, to be honest, extremely rude. However, we have pushed past those challenges and have become great individuals to this day.
To the little kids who have made me an aunt, Jordan, Ariana, Lucas, Isabella, Allayah and the newest edition coming soon. I know I have been away for far too long, and believe me, I miss each and every one of your little faces. I miss hugging you and giving you a bunch of kisses.
Thank you to everyone within my big family. Even if your name isn’t here, you all have helped me in ways that are unimaginable. I can’t wait to see you guys soon, and I hope I have made you proud.
Dad
Living my life without you here is hard. I know if you were here, you’d make the trip every weekend just to see me. You’d probably text me late at night asking if I was up. Although you’re not here with me, I know you are with me in spirit. Or at least I hope.
I hope I have made you proud. Every time I do an assignment or write an article for the Leader, I put my heart into it because I know if you were here, you would read every single thing I wrote.
I miss you so much, and I hope you are looking forward to watching me walk the stage to see me with that diploma.
Elmer and Igoe
I want to extend many thanks to the two professors who have helped me during my time at Fredonia. Thank you, Elmer Ploetz and Mike Igoe. You each have taught me skills that I will need when I graduate, and you both have made sure that everything I did, whether it be an assignment or an article, is always 100%.
Thank you for helping me become a better writer, a better anchor and a better person.
Career Development Office
Thank you, every single one of you.
From my boss to my fellow workstudys, thank you for everything, whether it was putting in internship data into a spreadsheet (which is my favorite thing to do) or decorating the office. Thank you for helping me with my resumes, my possible internships and with finding future jobs.
I will miss you all, and I am sad that I will be leaving. I hope you don’t miss me too much, but I know I will miss you all.
Thank you, Jenn, for helping me with my resume and believing in me.
Thank you, Chris, for being easy-going and lending an ear when I needed to talk about something.
Thank you, Kathy, for keeping me busy at the front, whether it be putting in evaluations or showing me pictures of Winston.
Thank you to everyone else. You all have made my time here bearable, and I hope to see you all again after I graduate.
Gordon Carpenter and the University Police Department
I wanted to extend many thanks to the current Police Chief here at SUNY Fredonia.
Thank you for meeting every other week to keep me updated about what happens on campus and to help me with any questions or concerns with the police blotter.
I am excited that this will continue in the fall semester, and I know it will be just as good, if not better. Thank you for being honest and giving information to me when it was needed. I hope The Leader and the University Police Department keep in contact to ensure our student body knows what is occurring on campus.
Friends back home
I would not have made it here without my friends from home. Krissy, Alder, Abby, Alex, Brittney and everyone else, thank you. You have helped me in so many ways, whether it be making sure I took breaks in between assignments or making the extra effort to convince me to play video games with you even though I should be working on this project.
Graduating high school with you was hard enough, but seeing as most of us are graduating, I want to say one thing.
Thank you. Thank you for being there for me and being my friend over the many years.
Peter
I want to express my gratitude to you. You have been with me since we started college. You have been there when I need to talk, when I need help and especially when I just need a hug. Thank you for making sure I always ate, made time for myself and always made sure my assignments were done. You are one of my biggest supporters and one of my best friends. I couldn’t have asked for a better boyfriend, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
My fellow graduating seniors
Whether you are from The Leader or just a senior, we did it! It seems crazy, and to be honest, very fast. I feel like I just started my senior year, and I am already at the finish line.
However, we all deserve this. From the all-nighters we have pulled to jampacking our schedule with different things, I say we deserve this. We have all worked hard, and we have had a lot happen during our time here.
Know that although we are at the end and now we have to go out into the big world, we are able to close this chapter and start another. It will be hard and it may seem overwhelming, but I believe every single one of us will be able to make our mark.
Myself
Abigail Jacobson, you have been through the ringer too many times. You have had so much happen to you, and you have taken those challenges and ripped them a new one. You are a hard worker, you are kind and smart. Do not give up on yourself or doubt yourself. You deserve everything that is given to you. You have worked so hard the past few years, so do not give up on yourself.
Thank you again to everyone. I don’t want my last semester to end because I am fucking terrified. But I deserve this. I deserve to walk across that stage and get my diploma.
And one more shoutout to The Leader: THANK YOU! I have become a better writer and have become more confident in myself. This paper has helped me heal. Thank you, everyone.