It may have been a little later this year, but the 2016-17 school year officially came to a close on Friday with commencement ceremonies across the county.

With that in mind, I want to take some time to do what I do every year, which is gush unapologetically about the amazing people who I get to work with on a regular basis that make my job so great.

– – –

The first order of business is you, the students. To the Class of 2017, I wish you success beyond your wildest dreams. I’ve gotten to know many of you throughout the past two years and it’s been an absolute pleasure. So if you come back to watch your younger siblings play sports and see me, stop by and say hello and tell me all about your adventures in college or whatever avenue you decide to pursue.

I’m sure you’ve all been inundated with advice, but indulge me for just a second and let me give you just a little bit more.

Find out what you love and pursue it with every fiber inside of you. Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t be afraid of stress and sleepless nights, because there will be plenty. If that’s the price to pay in order to realize your dreams and be happy, it will be well worth it. Don’t say no to new experiences, even if you may be apprehensive about them. Most importantly, DO you and be comfortable in your own skin.

And to those of you who I will see plenty of again in the fall, I look forward to it.

– – –

To the coaches, thank you for making our jobs so much easier. I know talking to the press before and after games probably isn’t the favorite part of your job, but you all do so willingly and graciously to promote your student-athletes.

I’m thankful for the relationships I’ve built with you and look forward to working with all of you in the coming school year.

– – –

To the students, coaches and all of our readers, thank you for your patience, especially this spring. We went through a bit of a transition that, albeit a good one, meant a lot of busy days and weeks and plenty of nights with not much sleep. It also meant that we couldn’t cover everything I would have liked to, and for that I apologize.

The good news is that both our news and sports sections have and will continue to become stronger. A little over two weeks ago, Brian Hagberg came on as our new sports reporter and I couldn’t be more excited. Perhaps you’ve seen him already at a legion game or a little league game and I know that you will welcome him the same way you welcomed me two years ago.

We’ve already discussed new ideas and will continue to do so in the weeks leading up to the 2017-18 school year and I’m incredibly excited about the direction we’re going.

So, I’d just like to say thanks one more time and hope that you didn’t find reading this too nauseating. Have a great summer!