Three years ago, when I first picked up a camera for The Prospector, I could not have imagined where the journey would lead. I was a nervous engineering major, hoping to contribute a few photos and gain experience. I never expected a newsroom to become a place I could call home.
Balancing deadlines with engineering coursework tested my limits more times than I could count. There were days when the camera felt too heavy, and the blank cutline box seemed impossible. But even during those moments, the newsroom gave me something to hold onto, a reminder that my work mattered, even when it felt small.
None of this would have been possible without the people who stood beside me, and I am deeply grateful to everyone who made this journey unforgettable.
Vero, thank you for bringing me into Student Media and Publications as a work-study student and giving me a chance to grow with little to no experience in journalism. Your trust in me opened the door to opportunities I never imagined.
Isa, thank you for always welcoming me with a smile and being there whenever I needed help or advice. Your kindness and support made the newsroom feel like a second home.
Amy, thank you for being my first friend at Student Media and Publications and showing me how to get by smoothly. Thank you also for always helping me with the camera equipment, even when I sometimes kept it too long.
Catching, thank you for bringing so much laughter and light into my life. I cannot tell you how many bad days you turned around just by being yourself. Your positivity made everything better.
Alyda, even though we only had a year together, it feels like we have been friends for much longer. I will miss the endless laughs, conversations, and spontaneous moments that made every day a little brighter.
Sofia and Gael, my favorite duo, thank you for all the laughs that made even the busiest, most stressful days easier to get through. Your energy and friendship are truly special.
Iziah, thank you for being the best photography partner I could have asked for. Whether we were out on assignment or brainstorming ideas, your creativity and friendship made the work more meaningful.
Avery and Emmanuel, thank you for being some of my kindest and most genuine friends. You made me feel welcome from the beginning and were always there for me.
Sebastian, thank you for being the coolest coworker and an even better friend. Your presence always made the newsroom a better and more exciting place.
To Diego, Jesie, Ximena, Kristian, Vianah, Joseph, Jazmine, Evelyn, Cameron, Daniela, Sadie, and Yael, thank you for creating a family within The Prospector. Working alongside all of you made every day more inspiring. I cannot wait to see the incredible work you will continue to create.
To my family and boyfriend, thank you for being my most excellent support system throughout this journey. Your encouragement, belief in my potential, and constant help with my photography gave me the confidence and skills I needed to grow. I am forever grateful for everything you have done to help me become who I am today.
Graduating with my bachelor’s in engineering innovation and leadership with a concentration in civil engineering, a minor in structural engineering, and an emphasis in computer science while simultaneously working as a photographer at The Prospector and Minero Magazine was an impossible mission without the generous help I received from my friends and family.
Now, as I say goodbye, there is a sadness I cannot ignore. It is hard to leave a place that gave me a voice and even harder to leave the people who helped me find it. But there is gratitude, too, for every assignment that challenged me, every late night that taught me resilience, and every story that reminded me why journalism matters.
Thank you, Prospector family, for everything. The deadlines, the laughter, the long nights and the memories will always stay with me. Here are the stories we told, and the ones still waiting to be discovered.
SalmaPaola Baca was a staff photographer and may not be reached at [email protected] but may be reached on Instagram @bysalmapaola.
