Three years ago in May 2011, I paid the price of not dedicating enough time to school. After a terrible first year at UTEP, I was suspended for a semester and had to spend the next eight months dedicated to work full-time at a fast food restaurant.
It was hard having to bare with the idea that I had no purpose in my life, doing the exact same thing every single day was unbearable, but it was a fair price for my own mistakes.
For a moment during those long eight months I gave up, for a moment I thought that maybe school wasn’t for me. Fortunately enough, I never let myself fully believe that, I knew I could do so much more than just cook frozen beef patties on a grill. I knew I was much better than that.
Once I was back, I planned on taking just two classes my first semester to pace myself back into college life. Then I made one of the best choices I’ve ever made, I joined The Prospector in the summer of 2012. It had taken me just one year to turn things around, from feeling defeated to the thrill of what was to come next.
Now that I’m putting an end to an amazing chapter of my life, I can take a look back and feel pleased with the work I’ve done. This job, in a way, got me out of my shell.
When it comes to sports, I covered everything there is to cover in El Paso. I was there when Mike Price announced his retirement and his last game as a head coach, I got to see the Diablos and the Patriots. I wrote a feature on Cross Country head coach Paul Ereng, a gold medalist in the Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics; one on Anthony Rotich, who, no doubt, will become an amazing athlete; I got to see both basketball teams more than thirty times; I was there in that amazing NIT run for the women’s basketball team and when Kayla Thornton and her teammates made history all season long; and of course, the very first win of the Triple-A team, the El Paso Chihuahuas.
There are also some other great moments for me. I was there that April 13, 2013 morning when the ASARCO smokestacks were demolished and I was there the next morning when City Hall was demolished.
I have nothing but great memories at UTEP and at our office. I owe a lot to the job, for giving me the motivation to keep going, to relieving my stress from class with the “good stress” of getting things done for the paper, and even though at times I hated the long nights when we had production, some of the best moments I had were during those late Monday nights.
I’ve got much to be thankful for, but I will say from the bottom of my heart that what I will cherish the most is the great people that I’ve met these two years and the great friendships I formed in the process. I want to say thanks to all of my friends and all my colleagues at The Prospy. I’ve learned a lot from each and every one of you and I can’t wait to see you become successful in the “real world,” because I know all of you have what it takes.
I did it! It took six long years to get that degree, but the moment is here and I’m excited for the next chapter and for the opportunity of interning for the San Antonio-Express News this summer.
Mamá, sin su apoyo y sin sus ocasionales regaños, nada de esto hubiera sido posible. Le debo mas de lo que le pudiese pagar en vida y sabe que este logro era mas que nada para darle esa satisfacción que merece por todo lo que ha hecho por mi. Te adoro mamá.
Thanks everyone. If there is something that I hope you’ve learned from me is to be yourself, believe in yourself and follow your goals, regardless of how crazy they might sound, and of course smile and see the positive side of things. Goodbye everyone, I promise not to let you down. See you on the other side.
Edwin Delgado may NOT be reached at [email protected].
