Graduating senior has enlightening college experiences


Amber Muranaka


These past four years at Cal State Long Beach have taught me more about life than I could have ever expected.

Four years ago I was a shy, naive senior in high school who thought she was all grown up. Coming to CSULB really opened up my eyes to the world around me and allowed me to meet some pretty interesting and unique people. And yes, I have also learned a lot.

There are many professors and friends I would like to thank for teaching me invaluable lessons I could not have learned otherwise without their wise guidance. But unfortunately, that would take too much space.

One such learning experience has been being an assistant city editor and staff reporter for Daily Forty-Niner. I have learned so much this semester about newspapers and what an editor’s job involves.

Starr Balmer, the city editor and next year’s editor in chief, has been a great influence on me. She taught me how to come up with story ideas, how to assign stories and the importance of getting articles in on time. I am very grateful for all the experience she has given me and for allowing me to be an assistant city editor.

Working for Daily Forty-Niner has prepared me well for the journalism world. Next year when I will be in a master’s program for journalism, I will feel confident about my experience with newspapers.

Now that I am 21 and will soon be graduating, the thought of leaving this school somewhat scares me. I cannot believe my undergraduate years are coming to an end. For most graduating students, I am sure they cannot wait until finals are over, and for the most part, I feel the same way.

But there is still a part of me that wants to stay. I want to stay where the campus and people are familiar, where my memories of the past four years have been.

I will leave CSULB with my degrees in print journalism and English education, but I will also take with me the various memories and experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today.

Thank you Cal State Long Beach for everything you have given me. I will never forget it.

Amber Muranaka is a graduating senior journalism and English education major and the assistant city editor of the Daily Forty-Niner.

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