Wow! Four years really isn’t that long, is it? What began as a passing curiosity ended up becoming a huge cornerstone of my life here at UTD, and I’ll always feel a little indebted to everyone who has accompanied me on this journey. As tempting as it is to turn my send-off into a sappy, long-winded soliloquy (especially considering nobody actually reads the ed desk), I’m way too Irish-Catholic to endure sentimentality for longer than a few seconds, so I’ll keep it brief. I wanna extend my gratitude to anyone who has bothered to enjoy my work. To be seen and supported in such a capacity is something I refuse to take for granted. So, thank you.
Phew, god, now that that’s over I can finally seclude myself back under my rock and write fanfiction without eating, drinking, or sleeping for days on end. See you guys in the bowels of AO3! If you spot me scuttling around down there, make sure to toss me some snacks.
Fleetingly yours,
Mickey D
Jesus Christ, this is really happening. I remember being 17 and picking up a copy of AMP on a school tour and thinking it was one of the coolest things I had ever seen. Imagining someone else having that reaction to my work now is surreal. Joining AMP was the first step on my journey to trying to become someone I admire, and I’m forever grateful for it. The people I have met and the experiences I’ve had here are some that I hope to carry with me for the rest of my life.
Shoutout to the following, in no particular order: the vending machines next to the ping-pong tables in the Student Union, Civil Pour on Coit Road, the Basic Needs Resource Center, and my dad, who told me that I was built to do hard things. Leaving AMP might be one of the hardest things yet, but I know the amazing team I’m leaving behind will bring us to new heights.
Goodnight, travel well.
-Ellie <3
Did you know that there are words inside of every AMP issue? It took me two years to figure this out. I began writing for AMP after a random Discord ping pushed me to attend a pitch meeting, and since then I’ve met so many cool people, done so many cool things, and got coerced into writing for at least one newspaper (also cool). But that already places too much focus on me, so here are some things YOU should know:
YOU can write for AMP!!! Anyone can pitch ideas for the magazine, so come to a pitch meeting (even if you suck)!
Guys, I got paid to moderate the comments. Please do not say dumb shit. If you call random people pedophiles in the AMP comments section, know that I will find you and make you and your descendants into a permanent underclass for all posterity.
Please experiment and be interesting, my AMPcessors. There are so many ways to do satire and opinions, and what makes AMP has always been our unique take on things (re: Temoc smut) — so never settle, always evolve.
Dying forever now,
Muaaz
