Leaving Lubbock for Austin city limits

by Shane Jester, staff writer

My past two semesters here at South Plains College have by been my best by far. The experiences that I have been a part of while writing for The Plainsman Press have served as valuable life lessons and have shaped who I am today. Three semesters ago, a semester before I began writing for the newspaper, I was a semi-avid reader. However, I had no clue about the type of work that was involved in the whole process.

The relationships that I have built, through fellow students and Mr. Ehrenfeld, have made me realize that there still are great people out there. Through Mr. Ehrenfeld’s teaching and helpful presence, I believe I have shaped myself into a better writer and a better person overall.

One thing that I do know is that I would never trade the editors or the staff writers on The Plainsman Press for any other news staff. However, this will be my final article for The Plainsman Press. I will be moving to San Marcos this summer to attend Texas State University, and hopefully I will be a member of their newspaper staff. I am very excited to finally get out of Lubbock, but at the same time a strange sadness overwhelms me.

I have never lived on my own, let alone 400 miles away from home. All my friends and just about everything that I have ever known are here in Lubbock. That seems to account for my nervous side. My excited side, however, is that I will finally be able to experience something new. I will be able to meet new people and do things that I would be unable to do in Lubbock. I will no longer wake up to a “Dust Bowl” or 80 mile per hour winds on a normal basis.

One thing that I realized a short time ago is that I want to remain in Texas for the entirety of my life. The hill country is the most beautiful part of Texas by far. The possibilities are endless, and I plan to make the most of my college experience there.

No matter what the rest of my life may present, I know that everything in my past has prepared me for one single moment that will help me declare myself as a person in the future. I want to thank all of my friends and everyone on the newspaper staff for helping me along the way. None of you will ever be forgotten.