I’m not the sentimental type. I could say good-byes are never easy for me, but is saying good-bye really ever easy for anyone.

I have enjoyed my term as editor in chief of the Daily, but it is time to say good-bye.

In the past two months, a number of people have come up to me and asked, “Are you ready for it to end?” If “it” means working 12-hour days, staying Sunday through Thursday until 11:30 p.m., replying to angry e-mails and telephone calls, putting up with persistent public relations people and going to meetings, then the answer is “Hell, yah!”

If “it” means the wonderful people whom I have had the chance to work with and get to know on a personal level, then the answer is “Hell, no.”

If “it” means going to class and seeing students reading the front page of the paper that I edited and designed, then the answer is again “Hell, no.”

Since I didn’t do many columns this year, I want to make this a memorable one.

I’ve decided to acknowledge and thank the people who have helped me make it through the past nine months and 151 issues of the Daily.

First off, I’d like to thank my mom for not hanging up on me when she would call and I would half-listen to her while editing stories.

To my roommates, Shamara Humbles and Ingrid Roseborough, even though you guys were usually asleep by the time I got home or by the time I left the next morning, thanks for always working around my schedule to talk to me.

When things weren’t going right at the Daily, former Editor in Chief Keesia Wirt always lent an ear for me to vent my frustrations. I know what you went through now. Thank you.

For all of you who do not know, my managing editor and my dawg Sara Ziegler will be editor in chief next year.

I owe a lot of the Daily’s success to the entire Daily staff, but especially to Sara for spending the extra hours to make sure the layout of the pages was flawless.

I have no doubt the Daily next year will be better than ever under her reign.

A lot of the editors at the Daily were hoping that I would have some inspiring parting words of advice, so here they are:

Michelle Murken — Dawg, good luck this summer as editor in chief. Just remember, the key to success is to drag out the budget meetings as long as you can.

Kate Kompas — You’ve turned into a great reporter and editor. Just remember that spell check is your friend.

Carrie Tett — Way to stay on top of the city and state news. You’ve improved so much this year that I would trust you with any drug bust or murder story.

Jason Young — You’re the features king and next John Carlson.

Greg Jerrett — I really did do more than six columns this year. It doesn’t matter because I know you’ll forget while you and cartoonist Carmen Cerra are standing in line this summer to see “Star Wars.”

Corey Moss — Corey, if there ever was an award for die-hard fans of long forgotten music losers, you would win it hands down.

On a serious note, you’ve done a great job this year with a diversified High Note, and I’ll know you’ll go far.

Josh “Justin” Flickinger and Ron DeMarse — No AP. Hopefully, next year the two of you will be able to tell those Daily Iowan sports guys where to stick their football sports preview section.

Olivia Ogren and Keo Pierron — If you thought the yelling was going to stop with me, think again.

Copy Editors — I forgot to tell you at the beginning of the year that I moved the deadline to 11:30 p.m.

I’d also like to thank the professional staff for helping to the keep the business side of the Daily running smoothly. All of you have been wonderful to work with.

Last but not least, I’d like to thank you — the readers — for picking up the Daily every day. You are what keeps us going.

Well, I guess that’s it. See ya’ later.

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Tara Deering is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Des Moines. She is editor in chief of the Daily.