Sam Klein, Managing Editor 

Dear La Salle Collegian, 

When I joined the paper freshman year, I was wholly unaware of the impact it would have on me. One of my first articles was a commentary piece reflecting on the homesickness I experienced coming back for the 2023 spring semester, a raw self-reflection on the inevitable difficulties of being a college freshman. “Home is Where the Heart is,” I called it, claiming to feel guilty that my heart was loyal to my hometown 250 miles away. 

Collegian–thank you for reminding me that things change. 

Yes, freshman year Sam, home is where the heart is; but the beautiful thing is, the desires of your heart don’t stay the same. Just how the timeliness, novelty and newsworthiness of a story are constantly fluctuating, the actual story itself is prone to twist and turns. 

I have always felt a deep connection to the power of words. It’s truly fascinating the way we can string the same 26 letters along to convey different meaning–make readers laugh, cry, reflect. I have always believed our ability to put thoughts on paper is one of the greatest gifts we humans have– to craft ideas that outlive us, a form of communication that transcends our time on Earth. But the Collegian has taught me it is more than just typing out words, it’s rather telling a story. 

Thank you, Collegian, for reaffirming my love not just for writing, but for storytelling. I started the paper publishing my own thoughts–mental health commentary, relatable freshman anecdotes and, of course, a reflection on homesickness. But my work has evolved just as I have, transforming beyond my individual thoughts and into an ability to feature the lives of others.  

Everyone has a story to share. It’s just a matter of how it’s told. 

I’ve told the stories of people closest to me, the stories of impactful leaders here at La Salle, like Kristen Harootunaian and even President Allen, and the stories of student organizations that have a positive impact on campus culture, like La Salle Democrats. I’ve shared the stories of small businesses, like Chill on the Hill, and places crucial to La Salle like the Interfaith Prayer Room and athlete fueling station. I’ve even sought the knowledge of experts far more intelligent than I am to help educate the student population on mental health burnout. 

I’ve told stories that were effortless to write and others where I stared at my laptop for hours waiting for the right words to come. I’ve written stories I am proud of and others I wish I could start from scratch. And despite all of the different kinds of stories I have told for the Collegian, there is one story I am eager to write…my own. 

“It isn’t until you leave home for a while and return that you learn home isn’t just a structure, but a concept,” I wrote three years ago, but with very different intentions. It’s funny to read now that I felt guilty not wanting to be in Philly, when Philly is the place I am meant to be afterall.  These past four years have taught me that La Salle is my home, and the Collegian is a large part of why I am tied to the 215. 

I’m endlessly grateful for the opportunity to have been Managing Editor of the Collegian for the past two years alongside Editor-in-Chief, Maya Martin. Maya–it has been an honor bringing the paper to life with you each week. Thank you for the dedication, hard work and passion you continuously bring to the paper, and the way you lead our staff. You do so much more than you’re given credit for, and it has been such a privilege being not only your colleague, but your friend. 

To our predecessors Claire and Sean–I know you will continue to do great things for this paper. Continue to lead with grace, an open-mind and above all else, a love for telling great stories. 

To the Collegian staff–please never stop writing. Your voice and mind are two of your greatest assets. Keep sharing stories, writing what matters and being part of the authentic journalism our society needs. As long as there are stories to share, we will need people in this world to accurately share them. 

I’m unsure of where life will take me next. There will be twists, turns and perhaps even a change of heart, as my newfound love for Philly can attest to. 

But despite the post-grad uncertainties, one thing is clear…this will be one hell of a story to write.