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I feel that time has gone by really quick. It is finally time to say goodbye and move on to what is next in line. 

If someone would have told me that I would be working at the school’s newspaper, I wouldn’t have believed them. I did it and I don’t regret it.   

I remember the day The Prospector’s former photo editor, Gabriela Velazquez, came to class and asked if someone would be interested in being a cartoonist for the newspaper. I was studying graphic design; that was not on my radar, but it did pique my interest. To be honest, that was the day I even found out UTEP had a newspaper.   

Time passed and, at the end of 2018, I started to wonder what I would do after I finished school.  

I wanted to build my portfolio and I realized I needed to use my art skills outside of class. I needed to step out of my comfort zone into a more professional ground rather than just wait for the next class critique.   

When I was ready to apply for the cartoonist position, I saw a hiring post looking for graphic designers for The Prospector on Facebook. That was it, I knew I had to take advantage of this opportunity. I saw it and immediately contacted the person who would soon become my boss.   

Like the aliens from Toy Story say, “I am eternally grateful” to Veronica Gonzalez for giving me the opportunity to test my skills.   

From the first day, I felt comfortable and supported with my creative approaches. I had experiences of real-life clients and situations that helped me grow as a professional. It helped me stay creative and think outside the box.  

Now I am leaving as creative director and I am thankful for having the opportunity to be part of a great team.   

Everyday walking in, it was inspiring to see all the staff working together and pull off deadlines for each paper.   

Having also worked for Minero Magazine, I had the opportunity to work alongside great designers and editors. Brainstorming ideas and considering each other’s feedback, we managed to meet deadlines.   

At the end of the day, seeing your work in its physical form and having people pick it up inspired me every day to keep inventing.  

This journey is one that I will remember forever as the place where I started to unfold in my major. 

I will be paraphrasing here, but I heard a thought somewhere that really stuck with me.  

We might have a dream or a goal, but the things that really matter are the sidetracks and deviations along the way. The people you meet, the lessons you learn. Those things make you grow and let you build memories that, by taking a shortcut, you might have never been able to experience.  

The Prospector staff may be reached at [email protected]