Very Fair, Very Well

By Joh Covington, Skyline Contributor

Photo by Hadley Anne Kibbe

ALPINE – They say that in your last moments, your life flashes before your eyes. While I am not knowingly in my final days, I am closing a chapter and reflecting on its pages. In these last, and very few, remaining weeks of school, in a semester that has blown by at the speed of light, my college experience is a common theme in my reverie. 

The Skyline student newspaper is what brought me to Sul Ross State University in the first place. On a random weekday in an apartment in Seoul, Korea, I received a text about an opportunity to work for the newspaper and attend Sul Ross.  

Laura Payne, a professor that I had while I was a high school dual-credit student, was looking for writers, and to my shock, thought of me. 

At many different points in my life, “aimless” would be the best way to describe me. Before starting at Sul Ross, I worked odd jobs here and there, rolling around contentedly. The day I was invited for a position with The Skyline and to be a prospective English major pulled my vision into something resembling focus. 

The thing about focus is it can fade in and out, and there were definitely some semesters with more focus than others. Everyone has those “What am I doing here?” moments, and I have had more than my fair share. Most of my moments were rooted in the ebb and flow of self-doubt. One thing that didn’t waver? The drive to finish what I had started and hopefully build something along the way.  

I am proud to say that I did help build something in the last four years. The Skyline has grown so much since those early days and will continue to do so in the right hands. After serving my time as a writer and editor, I was more than thrilled to pass the baton to the current editor, Brooke Manuel. Brooke has taken the newspaper even further, brightening its future for the next generation of young journalists. 

I walked into Sul Ross as a leaf on the wind and am walking out as a writer on the precipice of a career, and I have The Skyline and the SRSU faculty to thank for it.  

So, here it is: 

Dr. Payne, thank you for helping me open so many doors that I thought were locked. Sid, thank you for showing me the way down the path. Beyond thanks to my major’s professors who kept me focused: Roche, Francis, Briseño, Peddie and Sager.  

Special thanks to the professors outside my major who let me look through the windows beyond my comfort zone: Tegarden, Kelsch, Urbanczyk, Koenig, Trotman, Velasco, DeHart, Daganzo-Cantens, Flemming, Scott, Nussbaum and Jorgensen. 

Apologies if I forgot anyone. I have too much to do before graduation. 

Editor’s Note: Joh Covington started working for The Skyline in 2019. She served as editor for 5 semesters and worked a total of 9 semesters. In less than two weeks, she will be graduating from Sul Ross State University with a Bachelor’s of Art in English. While The Skyline is sad to see her go, we are excited for everything the future has to offer her. Farewell Joh!