Leaving the Daily for me is like breaking up with a long-term boyfriend. It’s a mutual breakup, parting on good terms. It’s time to end it, and I really have no choice since I’m graduating. But after you give four years of your life to a relationship, it’s hard to part ways, even if it’s for the best.

Aside from my real-life boyfriend, the Daily has been the most stable part of my college career. It’s infectious and addictive. It’s like a disease you want to be cured of, but it’s also a habit from which you get a secret pleasure. One of my staff members put it best recently when he told me, “The Daily’s in my blood.”

That sounds a little weird when you’re talking about a newspaper, a job, what equates to a college class at times, but it’s so true.

I can’t remember exactly when I was infected with the Daily.

Maybe it was the night I wrote my first front page story. I was sitting in my Friley dorm room, painting my finger nails, when I got a call from my editor begging me to cover IRHA’s voting on the Veishea pledge for the first time.

At first I didn’t want to do it, but after a lot of coaxing, I covered the meeting and was so filled with adrenaline by the time the night was over, I wanted to do it again. And so I did do it again. And again, and again, and again.

I don’t know when I decided I wanted to be editor in chief, either. Watching the editors who preceded me – Keesia Wirt, Tara Deering and Sara Ziegler – I always thought there would be nothing harder than doing this job.

They were always stressed out, often upset about some person or some story, and they were here for long hours every day.

Perhaps what drew me to the job was the respect I had for them. They were always sitting in this office, doing important stuff, and they seemed so powerful. Each editor had a strong influence on my life. Maybe I wanted to try to affect somebody that way.

I suppose I’ll never know if I succeeded, but there have been some incredible people in the newsroom this year who certainly had an effect on me.

When I was named editor last spring, I was a little worried about who I would hire for certain key positions. Most of my staff was completely fresh, but I was confident that, with the proper training and encouragement, those people would flourish in their new jobs and make the Daily something I could be proud of.

One of those people was Katie Goldsmith, who I hired as managing editor. I had never worked with her that closely, and she didn’t have much experience as an editor, but I took a risk.That risk was the best move I ever made as editor.

Katie was an incredible manager, always keeping everyone in line and taking care of the problems I didn’t want to deal with. Her drive for efficiency made the newsroom operate much more smoothly and cut some time off the process.

Thank you, Katie, for being there for me both at work and as a friend. I couldn’t have survived without you. If I ever have a problem with international comparative law, you’ll be the first person I call.

A couple other women emerged this year as strong leaders at the Daily. Andrea Hauser surprised me this year. Her hard work and dedication earned her my job next year. It’s a long road ahead, Andrea, but it’s well worth it in the end. Michelle Kann is one of the most effective leaders I’ve ever encountered. She took our Web site to another level, something I could never have done without her, and will be the big chief this summer. Enjoy it, Michelle, and never let a sparse budget get you down too far.

Wendy Weiskircher is one of my favorite people ever. She proved to both herself and the rest of the staff that she could be a good editor. You have such a bright future, Wendy. I’ll be so proud when I can say I knew you when.

Amber Billings and Anna Conover have been great additions to the news desk this year. You came into a challenging role at mid-year, but you did a great job.

Conor Bezane and I have been through a lot together. We started at the Daily about the same time, and we’re ending together, too. It’s been fun, man. I hope you get that job at Playboy.

Kyle Moss and Jon Dahlager have been a constant source of entertainment in the newsroom. I love looking out from my office to see you guys jumping around and playing air guitar to Korn. You could always make me smile when I really didn’t want to be here.

Jeremy Gustafson and Jeff Stell. What can I say? I’m so impressed with what you’ve done with the sports section, even though I got frustrated sometimes. The Daily is all about tough love, right?

Nina Fox was the saving grace of sports. You moved into guy town and laid down the law.

Justin Petersen was a huge asset to the Daily photo department and Josh Hale was his prodigy, while Erin Borcherding kept them in line. Erin, you’re a rock star. I’ll miss your energy and your smile.

Lindsay Anderson has made it possible to run more graphics in the Daily, while Carmen Cerra has continued to provide both cartoons and comic relief.

Jocelyn Marcus and Tim Paluch proved that creating a wire editor was a worthwhile change at the Daily.

Greg Jerrett isn’t here anymore, but he gave me a great sense of stability and continuity when I needed it the most last fall. Thanks for getting me through the last three years.

Spoon, thanks for all your support. I think we’re finally figuring out how to use an adviser.

I also want to thank my family for supporting me this year and every year at the Daily. This wasn’t the field you wanted me to get into, but I hope I made you proud in the end. I love you all.

My fianc‚ has been my strongest support system. Cory, you always let me vent and (usually) said the right things to make me feel better. Just 54 days until you’re legally required to do that.

I’ll miss everybody at the Daily, and part of me doesn’t want to go. But I know it’s the natural course of an editor’s life, and I’ll see you all again. Thanks for the greatest year of my life.

Carrie Tett is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Ames. She is editor in chief of the Daily. It’s all starting to sink in.