Adalia Luo
Editor-in-Chief
I’ve been dreading writing this for a really long time. I’ve been counting down the years, ominously, since I first had to say goodbye to the seniors of my freshman year, and I am sick to my stomach every time I remember I’m in their shoes now.
What even is there to say? The UCSD Guardian has been the number one most important thing in my life, nonstop, for the past two years. Blah blah free press, student-run spaces, student journalism — there is truly nothing in the world I am more proud of than this newsroom and this team. You guys are an incredibly weird and odd mixture of some very particular flavors of nerd, and I am so lucky to have gotten to meet, edit, and cry with you all. Thank you for listening to my tantrums.
For my final goodbye, I would like to brag a little, in print, with class and concision. Imagine me winking. Okay: PRESS, 10k, 16 pages, more LTTEs, newsstands (on behalf of Kurt), yearbooks, softball, and over 1,000 articles edited and 200 meetings held. Pretty cool. Please connect with me on LinkedIn.
I am so honored, so humble, and so grateful to have lived and let live with y’all. HAGS, keep in touch, etc. Also, if anyone knows how to help me transfer my files from the shared drive into my personal drive (I don’t know how to use email) please hit my line. Love ya! xoxo, Adalia.
Kurt Johnston
Managing Editor
I joined The UCSD Guardian for two primary reasons: to write about sports and to meet other people who wanted to write about sports. Four years, one March Madness appearance, two promotions, dozens of late nights, 47 bylines, and probably thousands of edits later, I leave The Guardian having done just that. Congrats, Alan.
It wasn’t always easy — ask anyone who has spent a Sunday in that insane pastel pink room — but it was always rewarding. I’ll never forget the feeling of publishing a writer’s first-ever article, watching the SAGA go green at the end of a long production, or seeing a stranger pick up a print paper from a freshly restocked news stand. Those memories are a testament to the collective hard work and dedication of all of the graduating seniors next to me.
Thank you to everyone who has made my time with The Guardian so incredibly special. I am so grateful and proud that I had the opportunity to spend the last four years with you. Journalism is nothing without the people involved — and there is nobody else I would have rather done it with.
Sonia McSwain
Creatives & Projects Editor
When I joined The UCSD Guardian, I had no idea what to expect. I didn’t know I would spend nearly every weekend designing layouts in a messy office while “Bags” by Clairo played in the background. I didn’t know I’d make breaking news posts during lectures, help document the encampment, or facilitate cross-section projects. Honestly, I didn’t even expect to be on the design team. It’s these unexpected twists and turns that make working at The Guardian so special.
Somewhere between the stress and the Sunday nights that turned into Monday mornings, The Guardian became the most meaningful part of my college experience. It’s so rare to find a space where such wonderful, passionate, and hardworking people can all work together to create something great, even if the path to our success hasn’t been the easiest. Things fall apart. Indesign crashes. Stories change by the hour. The Guardian has a way of teaching you to embrace chaos and laugh through the exhaustion.
Adalia, you never cease to amaze me. Your bravery, spirit, and tenacity are a constant inspiration. I’m so lucky to have begun this journey with you. Kurt Johnston, local man, the Kent Davison of The Guardian, thank you for being a shoulder to cry on. My dearest Kokoro, my rock, my sister, words cannot describe how much you mean to me. It’s so beautiful that The Guardian was the thing that allowed us to find each other. Thank you for being my beacon of light and love. While I’m happy we are all free from working another production, I’ll miss spending time with you every Sunday.
To Abby Larsen, Abby Kapur, and Jeanine, mama loves you forever. Alan, keep fighting for what you believe in, but remember to breathe too. Roxana, thank you for all the music and advice.
To all my creatives, there will always be a place for you in journalism. Your work matters more than you know.
I am so honored to be a part of this amazing community. Thank you for everything!
Abby Offenhauser
Training & Development Director, Features Editor
When I entered college, I was still unsure about my major and career path — but I knew for sure that I wanted to write for the school newspaper. When I toured UC San Diego in high school, I tracked down The UCSD Guardian’s office in the Old Student Center, pointed it out to my family, and excitedly told them that I might work in that office in college.
That office would soon become a second home for me. Between early mornings distributing the paper, afternoons in meetings or work sessions, random drop-ins to bug my friends between classes, and all-nighters editing articles, this office and the people in it were my home base across my time at UCSD.
The Guardian was the most rewarding and transformative experience of my college years. It’s brought me to music festivals, baseball games, community events, libraries, restaurants, live theater, and the state capitol. Along the way, the talented, hardworking, and compassionate journalists I’ve met here have completely rewired the way I write and think about the world.To Emma, Maddy, and Tanvi: I am beyond grateful to be leaving Features and Training & Development in your very capable hands. To the Features section: Seize every opportunity, pitch every idea, and never stop asking the tough questions. All of you have an admirable passion for what you do, and I am so looking forward to reading your future work. To Sydney, Des, Sam, Adalia, Kurt, Sonia, my former editors Viv and Miriya, and everyone else I’ve worked with here over the years: Your friendship and mentorship mean everything to me; you inspire me to be a better writer and leader. HAGS!
Natalia Montero Acevedo
News Editor
I started at The UCSD Guardian in the Fall Quarter of my freshman year back in 2023. Since then, the paper grew to become a constant in my everchanging college career. To have grown from a contributing writer to associate news editor, to, eventually, news editor, is an absolute honor. I am proud to say that every headline, every draft, every edit, and every story taught me countless lessons. I am also proud to say that I have so much left to learn — as a writer, as an editor, as a leader. Nonetheless, beyond just professional growth, my biggest privilege was being a member of our community — as part of the News section and as a UC San Diego student. To witness writers grow into their talent while ensuring that our stories voiced our editorial mission marked my time at the paper. I would like to thank my writers, my past editors, my best friends, all who have been with me throughout this time. I will miss you, The Guardian! Don’t be a stranger.
Sydney McDonald
Associate Features Editor
As one of the unfortunate “gifted” high school graduates, I thought that everything I touched (wrote) was pure gold. Safe to say, I needed the humbling. If it wasn’t for the hard work of the various editors that battled to understand whatever I was writing in my initial drafts, none of my pieces would be half of what they are today.
At first, it was hard to separate the feeling of “failure” from the 82 plus suggestions and comments that I often saw on my screen Sunday night. But as the weeks turned into two years spent at The UCSD Guardian, I wrote better drafts, crafted better interview questions, and became somewhat satisfied with my outputs. Going into my senior year, I was elected to be the Features editorial assistant which later turned into Features associate editor. I took on responsibilities that I never even dreamed of maintaining when I first started.
I’m endlessly thankful to Abby Offenhauser, my partner-in-crime who dedicated so much of her life to the success of our Features section — and teaching me the ropes. Thank you to every single member of the Features team, each of whom I treasure dearly.
Keita Kobayashi
Photo Co-Editor
Spending four years in a student organization is a long time, some may argue too long. Lucky for me, I have been blessed to have worked alongside such amazing people for every single one of those four years. The Photo team and The UCSD Guardian as a whole have evolved every year, and it is something I have genuinely been proud to have been a part of. I wish nothing but the best for The Guardian and all the people who make it so special.
Good luck to the Photo team; I hope you haven’t gotten sick of me as your editor in these last two years.
Super senior out.
Thomas Murphy
Photo Co-Editor, Co-Webmaster
It’s rare to find your place in such a strong community, even rarer to help build that space yourself. Joining The UCSD Guardian was the best decision I made in college. Switching majors from media to psychology, I was adrift, searching for a creative outlet — I found the Photo team, which sparked a deep commitment to journalism and this publication.
This was far from easy. Personal hardships, fighting a budget crisis, and covering challenging topics defined my time here. I managed all of this while building a new section, Web, from nothing. Despite this, I have not allowed anything to stop me. Failure is inevitable; success must be earned.
We persist because this work is essential. The Guardian must be the best it can be for everyone connected through UC San Diego: students, workers, educators, and administrators. So much would have gone unnoticed, or entirely forgotten, without the diligent work of our student journalists.
Aside from my belief in its importance, what got me through was the people I’ve worked with every week for the last three years, many of whom have come and gone. To everyone who helped me through this, thank you; I hope I did the same for you.
Thank you, Millie, for supporting me and fostering my love of photojournalism. Alex and Raymond, for giving me the space to commit my energy and recognizing my strengths — plus, nicknaming me “Daddy Long Legs,” which spawned a whole naming scheme for the Web team.
Keita, thank you for being a great editor and an even better friend. I hope my antics, stupid jokes, and incessant 0.5 photos didn’t annoy you. Working with you has been a joy; your calm and kind nature was the rock I relied on throughout all of this.
To the Photo team, members past and present, thank you. Working with and helping to lead all of you has been an honor. I hope the environment Keita and I built enabled you to grow as photographers — all while having fun! One day, you’ll have to admit I’m funny. To those staying on and future members, you’re in the excellent hands of Kelly and Justin, whose work has continuously impressed and inspired my own.
Sage, your dedication and support are what helped the Web team reach the heights it has today. There’s no way I could have carried the section in its second year alone, especially with all the challenges that were thrown our way. Without you, The Guardian wouldn’t have been named the number three student news website of 2026 — no doubt.
In a similar vein, thank you, Kip and Sam. Seeing your commitment to Web gives me the utmost confidence that you will thrive next year and beyond. Kip, watching your confidence grow has been wonderful; never let anything hold you back, because there’s nothing that can. Sam, your passion and kindness have been a bright spot in my final year.
To the Web team, your work has elevated our publication to new heights. I’ll always laugh when I think back on “the creature” or that awful Taylor Swift song. Thank you for everything you’ve done; I can’t wait to see where you take The Guardian next.
Sophia Lee
Multimedia Editor
I only joined The UCSD Guardian last Spring and was immediately promoted to editor of a small and blossoming section. New to UC San Diego as a transfer, and to The Guardian as a whole, leading Multimedia was not an easy feat. But my time here has taught me to be ambitious, be comfortable with the uncomfortable, and face challenges head on. All I hope is that my leadership pushes my members to do the same and feel confident to face whatever new challenges lie ahead of them.
Thank you so much to Annabella, my co-editor, for continuously showing up with nothing but enthusiasm and willingness to learn. To Jordan, new MM editor, your quiet enthusiasm and reliability has and will continue to make MM amazing. My MM baddies, you are each unique, bright, and amazing, and know great things lie ahead for all of you. I am so grateful and proud to have been your editor, as many shortcomings as I’ve had. Sonia, there is no one like you. Thank you for your unwavering support in all the ways that I needed and more. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my Guardian journey! That’s a wrap >3
Kokoro Igawa
Chief Copy Editor
As Rachel Berry once said, “Being a part of something special makes you special.” Being a part of The UCSD Guardian was an undeniably special experience that I will cherish forever. I would not trade all of the outrageously late production nights and truly countless hours spent poring over articles for anything. Joining The Guardian in Fall Quarter of my first year was the best decision I ever made, and the community I found here has made all of the toil well worth it.
Sonia, meeting you was the greatest gift The Guardian ever gave me. You are my rock and my other half. The future has so much in store for us, and I am so excited for the next chapter of our lives. I love you from San Diego to Edinburgh to Toronto.
Adalia, I continue to learn so much from you every day, and your strength and intelligence never fail to inspire me.
Kurt, who would’ve thought?! Smartest man in the world! To many more adventures and New York Times game sweeps.
Abby, you are such a star, and I couldn’t have done any of this without you by my side. I am so excited to see how the Copy team improves under your reign. You got this, mama.
Cindy, I say this to everyone every day, but you are just incredible. We are so lucky to have you.
My Copybaras, you all are such a marvelous group. Just two years ago, I was the sole member of the Copy team, and in such a short period, you have helped transform it into a warm and welcoming community. Thank you for your kindness and dedication. Keep up the spectacular work. May the increasingly AI-dependent world never forget the indispensable value of a human copy editor. The Guardian needs you.
And to every person I have had the pleasure of meeting at The Guardian, thank you. Serving as your chief copy editor for the past two years has been an honor and a privilege.
Ethical, accessible journalism has perhaps never been more crucial, and I hope that The Guardian continues striving to be a shining beacon of integrity amid the world’s unending chaos.
I will miss this dearly.
Signing off as your chief copy editor one last time. Copy clear.
Leea Caddell
Senior Staff Writer
As I tend to do, my submission comes in near the deadline — not only because I hardly have time to reflect but because I don’t know how to express my gratitude. What started as a passing interest of mine developed into a cornerstone of my college experience.
When I first sent in an application to The UCSD Guardian in second year, I wasn’t expecting much. I’m a STEM major that hardly dabbled in writing and yet I considered myself an aspiring journalist.
I quickly realized how much I love discussing my favorite media. From concert coverage and album reviews to weekly favorite songs, I fell in love with my section. It’s fitting that my debut article was a review of a TOMORROW X TOGETHER album, the first K-pop group I had followed since debut. That piece, alongside stories discussing other groups and campus K-pop organizations, shaped the heart of my content.
The Guardian gave me a creative outlet that most STEM students don’t get to experience. Thank you to A&E for pushing me to be the best writer I can be. And to call back to my debut piece, don’t worry — “There’ll be no more sorrow, I’ll see you there tomorrow.”
Julia Cervantez
Gamer
My brief time on the Games team has been rewarding in ways I could have never imagined. Despite being an avid The New York Times and LinkedIn games player, I did not realize the intricacies of creating a Sudoku with an actual solution or a full crossword with 50 or more solvable clues.
I had always been interested in joining The UCSD Guardian, but I only applied at the beginning of my second-to-last quarter. While I hadn’t known that The Guardian even had a Games team, I immediately knew it would add a level of whimsy and intellectual stimulation to my life that I had been lacking. I created my first ever crossword puzzle as a sample for Abigail Larsen, our beloved first games master, and the rest was history.
Multiple crosswords, sudokus, and word scrambles later, I am so happy that I had the opportunity to be a part of the first year of the Games section. Knowing that people can enjoy new puzzles every Monday with carefully reviewed formats, clues, and solutions brings me joy. I will be sure to check https://ucsdguardian.org/games/ weekly, even when I am across the country and old.
My Farewell Word Scramble:
- Tkahn
- Uoy
- Os
- Mcuh
- Gsmea
Ashley Djunaedi
Staff Writer
In so many ways, The UCSD Guardian has been an indisposable part of my undergraduate journey at UC San Diego. Despite joining in my senior year, I was able to quickly find a strong community in the Lifestyle section and flourish through the support of this creative environment.
Thank you Camelia for making the section feel like home — and to all the beautiful people I’ve met in this space, you have brought much light into my life! Thank you for changing the way I look at life by showing me how every small thing can be celebrated — the same way every little idea can be a story.
As for the future of physical media, I believe that it will live forever. When all comes to pass, the strongest currency we have is memory — and there is no better way to remember the vivid stories and the fullness of your life than to have them take the form of something you can hold with your hands. Thank you for allowing me to immortalize my stories and giving me the power to let my memories live on!
Hannah Jang
Senior Staff Writer
“Is there life after college?” I once read from a polka-dot metal pin.
My sister calls me crazy, often, but her terminology suddenly matured to “erratic” and “irrational.” Her dictionary hit its first puberty as I was approaching my second — that is, my second growing up.
I have no problem admitting to the erratic life. Last month, I: dyed my hair, cut it, thought my roommate was trying to kill me, overspent on vitamins and copper from the Indian store in downtown Los Angeles, had a midterm paper to write, but also Levi’s jeans to buy, so did both until the trolley took me to San Ysidro, turned 21 years old, skipped class to practice my thesis, embraced a happy birthday song from the lady at the Pacific Beach bus stop, signed a free trial to book out the gym, donated blood to get free snacks, drank free champagne, and paid $500 for good conversation with friends over upscale Korean “gochujang octopus.”
But irrational? I blocked my sister after she said that, then decided I’m not moving to Georgia for family. I shot my best career materials straight to San Diego Magazine, and now I’m starting a new life here, the second time.
Alex Lee
Senior Staff Writer, Ads Representative
Things I love about The UCSD Guardian:
C. Couches are super comfy!
A. Awarding feeling seeing your story in print!
M. Meeting new and lovely people!
E. Electric softball season!
L. Loud sports chanting!
I. Inviting and welcoming atmosphere!
A. Accomplishing everything I wanted to!
T. Travelling to cover cool events!
Z. Zany icebreakers!
A. Abundance of laughter!
D. Dang this is harder than I thought.
O. Ok almost done!
K. Kangaroos!
Jaechan Lee
Senior Staff Writer
Soy coreano.
Justin Lu
Photographer
Really does feel like just last week when I searched up UC San Diego’s student newspapers in hopes of applying. How four years fly by. The UCSD Guardian Photo team was the first dedicated photography community I joined; I’ll always be appreciative, Millie, for taking me on as a wee freshman, instilling the ethics and best practices of the craft. In my first year, I already thought it was absurd the scope of events I covered; since then it’s only gotten grander. Much love to every soul who has been with me on this journey: my peers in other departments who enable my work and provide a reason for its existence; leadership for maintaining our integrity while continually pushing the envelope; my fellow photographers who maintain the spirit every Monday; and my editors, who’ve set the tone, encouraged me to get uncomfortable, and had my back. Knowing my work will be how troves of people experience moments in school history is an incredible privilege and truly embodies both the genuine purpose and memorable experience I found here. In comparison to the wide world of corporate photography, I’m grateful I discovered meaning through photojournalism in The Guardian; there really is no other space quite like it.
Vy Nguyen
Copyreader
Spending Sundays crunched over a laptop in an old, cramped office may not sound like a riveting college experience to many, but it was the highlight of my time at UC San Diego. I got to spend a whole day doing what I enjoyed most: reading other people’s writing to find punctuation and spelling mistakes. It also doesn’t hurt that I got to do it with like-minded people — shoutout my Copybaras! It was so fun to work with so many kind, funny, and smart people, and to get to know them through their writing. The UCSD Guardian was where I found community in a place where I thought it would be hard to come by. It was also an organization that gave me so much — opportunities for professional and personal growth, as well as a plethora of friends to share meals and laughter with. It’s a good thing I’m a better editor than a writer, as I still struggle to find the words to describe my love and gratitude toward The Guardian. I’m so proud of everything we’ve done so far, and I’m so excited to read every new issue after I leave. Best of luck, and lots of love!
Roux Reilly
Copyreader
I can’t believe it’s time to say goodbye to The UCSD Guardian, but I guess it’s okay. It’s okay because when I close the office door for the last time behind me, I know I won’t be leaving empty handed. I’ll have with me stored up in my heart countless memories I wouldn’t trade for the world. It’s been an absolute honor and privilege to work as a copyreader for The Guardian. Thank you to Abby, Kokoro, Jeanine, and everyone else on the Copy team who welcomed me with open arms last year. I’m going to miss my capy-copys and our Sunday prod shenanigans something horrible. Thank you to Camelia, Sophie, and the Lifestyle team for accepting me into your corner of the newspaper, it’s been such a joy to uplift y’alls voices as your humble copyreader. I am so grateful to have shared my time in college with this incredible organization, and I’ll never take my time here for granted. It’s been fun guys :). Thank you for everything!
Camila De La Cerda Rodriguez
Staff Writer
I remember the day I came in for my section interview, I skipped my lecture in order to rehearse the answers for my interview where I ended up blanking out halfway. At the time, I did not know I was walking into a newspaper that would somehow implement softball into its agenda. Throughout my journey at The UCSD Guardian, I made friends while debriefing the chaotic events that would happen to me. I am currently writing this with an injured eye; perhaps it’s the universe’s way of telling me I should open my eyes and read my articles before turning them in, as I never knew peace during the editing process. At the end of the day, I earned meaningful memories and a new professional voice that I will be using as a graduate living on a strip of land in the middle of Los Angeles while I rewatch the same film starring Adam Driver. At least I have a sticker of The Guardian to keep me company when I rethink my educational choices a day after graduation. To The Guardian I say farewell, and thank you to the entire Features team for listening to my rambling self. Love, Camila.
Jonathan Zhang
Senior Staff Writer
The past four years have been — interesting. I’ve consumed 300 liters of Red Bull, discovered that I can eat roughly 40 chicken nuggets in 30 minutes (possibly more if given sauce), and earned a college degree (turns out you need one to find a job).
Besides all my other godly achievements, I’ve also been a part of a small, budding organization called The UCSD Guardian. I started as an editor before spending the rest of my time focusing on food reviews since I live to eat. I’ll always cherish the memories of enjoying delicious foods with my best friends from college.
I’d like to thank all the editors, Samantha, Kelly, and Camelia, for their hard work and their ability to transform my mediocre writing into pieces worthy of the Nobel Prize in literature. As for my future, it is uncertain. However, I’m leaning toward the idea of being either a manager at my local Cheesecake Factory or the president. Cheers to the future and goodbye UCSD!
Cindy Zhou
Artist
The UCSD Guardian is fun and a cool place to be 😋🎨🎓🥰😍🤩
