There are certain things I’ve been wanting to do, but haven’t had time for since I’ve been the Editor in Chief of The Northerner.

Now that we’re publishing the final paper for the semester, I’ll have some time to pursue these endeavors.

At the top of the list is graduation. After that, I’m free to go after my dream of becoming a famous rapper, a New York Times columnist,a novelist and screenwriter.

Of course The Northerner has opened up opportunities and afforded experiences that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I’ve covered court cases, budget meetings, library refurbishings, hirings, firings and “acted” in one commercial.

It’s been an interesting experience, and one that I wouldn’t have traded, except if someone offered me a record deal, because everyone in the office already knows, and the world is about to find out, that I’m nice on the mic.

I originally applied for a job as a staff writer, wanting to increase my experience in journalism after a summer internship with the Community Press.

When I started at The Northerner last semester I was supposed to serve as one of several Editor’s in Chief.

Instead, I ended up as the sole Editor in Chief, in charge of a paper I’d only written for through a class.

All I knew about how papers were ran came from classes and my internship. I had a long way to go.

It was a slightly hectic and daunting experience at first. I was forced to think about every aspect of the paper, from advertising, to layout, to the Web site, to what stories we’d have to cover.

I was lucky enough to get some very good help from some very good and very talented people.

Despite this, I still woke up in the middle of the night stressed over questions like “Who’s going to do the cartoon every week?” “What font should we use for the headlines?” and “Which impounding lot has DPS towed my car to this week?”

All of it, or at least most of it, eventually came together into the paper we’ve been putting out for the past two semesters.

The time has gone by so quickly that I can hardly remember what it was like when we started.

I’ll save the shout outs and big ups for my first CD’s linear notes and hope it will suffice to say that I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart.

Thinking back, I’m amazed that some weeks we were able to put out editions. I’m sure some of them wouldn’t have happened unless certain people stepped up and helped out. I can’t thank those people enough.

And thank you for reading the paper. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it just as much next semester when there are many great new people running the show.

As for right now, I think I’m going to chill in my b-boy stance for awhile.

After that I’m going to go out and find a job, either as a platinum-selling rapper, or a newspaper reporter, whichever comes first.

Hopefully by then you’ll be doing what you love to do no matter what and where it is.

Word to your mother.