I am sad to announce this is my final column. This is my last week at the Standard. Doing what is best for you is not always easy, but sometimes it has to be done. I am going to pursue other opportunities at this time. 

For my final column, I wanted to extend a thank-you to, well, you. I am so appreciative of every single person who read my column over these past three years. I have so enjoyed sharing my life, thoughts and opinions with all of you. I loved hearing people in person telling me they enjoyed my columns or getting an email or phone call from someone I don’t know thanking me for sharing my opinion on something or telling me I made them laugh. I even appreciated the negative feedback because, hey, at least you read it. One very kind lady even brought me flowers one time. I have truly been blessed by supportive people in the community. 

One of the worst parts about leaving my job is leaving my column. I know it sounds silly, but this was something I looked forward to every week and I know a lot of other people did too. One lady, Miss Connie Oliver, used to always look forward to what I would complain about next. My friend’s mom also looked forward to reading it. A lady at my church even calls me “Miss Southern Standard,” so I am very sorry Brenda. 

Another thing I am appreciative of is all the connections I have made through this job. With the exception of a few hiccups, that we will not talk about again, everyone has been very cooperative with me. I am also appreciative of all the stories I was able to tell while working here. 

Local journalism is important. While I am leaving this position, I am not doing so because what we do is not important, because it is. We have a responsibility to inform the community of what is going on. We have the responsibility to shed light on issues that would have otherwise been swept under the rug. This is something I never took lightly. While we may have been short-staffed and not able to cover every single thing that ever happened, I did my best. 

I am grateful for my years at the Standard. I learned a lot, worked with a lot of people, got to do a lot of cool things and I got to meet a lot of cool people. My time here has just come to an end. As sad as that might seem, I am excited for the future and my future opportunities. If you liked reading my columns and stories, I apologize, and if you didn’t, well congrats! Now you don’t have to.   

The Standard will always be a special place to me. Without it, I quite literally wouldn’t exist because my parents actually met here. My mom worked at the front desk and my dad was a delivery driver; the rest is history. I also grew up being in the paper a lot and my birth announcement was even in it in 1999. The Standard has been a big part of my life. 

So this is my final “Re Porter.” It has been fun. Thank you again.

Standard News Editor Bethany Porter can be contacted at bporter@southernstandard.com