OPINION: Goodbye TAMIU, it’s been nice

By Juan Carlos Puente
Editor-in-chief
Published Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024

This will be my last opinion piece for The Bridge since I am graduating in December. At first, I had been putting this article off because I felt like I had nothing to say.

I’m graduating, why does it matter? Now that I am writing, I can’t help but feel a tightness in my chest.

The Bridge has been my home away from home for the past three semesters and I’m left with the regret that I didn’t join sooner. Coming into college, I was in a bad headspace riding off a breakup and a parental divorce. I felt that nothing else mattered, not even my classes.

I didn’t even know what I wanted to do afterward, the original plan was graphic design at University of North Texas but I came to Texas A&M International University instead with the hopes of going to school with my then partner. I decided to put communication as a placeholder so I could get my basics over with and transfer out of there.

I decided to get my life in order and put some thought into what I wanted to do for myself. I chose therapy, studied and turned in my assignments on time and of course, joined The Bridge.

Over time, I got interested in writing during classes such as journalism and screenwriting, both taught by my mentor, Instructional Associate Professor Thomas Robert Brown, who deserves so much credit for building my career. Because of him, I was able to understand the world of journalism and writing on a deeper level; it is also because of him and everything The Bridge offered me that I was able to get the opportunity of a lifetime by being able to work for KGNS as a writer.

Of course, the article wouldn’t be complete without giving my gratitude to my friends and staff members. They have been with me through thick and thin and have been by my side the whole way up. It was because of The Bridge that I was able to meet the majority of them and I would be lying if I said I would be the same person without them. 

So to Brown, Vicente Mendoza, Dora Guerrero, Ana Vara, Marissa Contreras, Cris Cordova, Matteo Fernandez and everyone who has made my college life fun, thank you for everything.