Every year I've been at CMU, some reporter or editor writes a farewell column and up until this time I always wondered what possessed them to think readers cared they were leaving school.

Well, the simple fact is this time I don’t care. I know that sounds bad, but after four years of writing for this paper and having the readers’ best interests in mind, please, just this once, bear with me.

People outside of Central Michigan LIFE have no idea what this paper means to the students who put so much into its publication. This paper is not only a job, but it is truly a way of life for the staff of students lucky enough to be involved.

I owe a great deal of who I am to this paper. It has allowed me to realize that in life you have to go out of your way and make it for yourself.

It’s taught me that if someone is willing to give you something, than it probably isn’t worth having in the first place.

Not only has it taught me this for my future career in journalism but it has taught me this in life.

My thanks go out to my former editors Jeremy Dickman and Jeremy Stephens. I remember one day four years ago; I was talking to my high school friend Stephens and told him how I was changing my major from history to I didn’t know what.

He remembered I had taken high school yearbook and there was an opening in the CM LIFE sports department. I decided why the heck not. I get to have good seats to CMU athletics and make a little money in the process. Little did I know my life changed that day.

My first and last beat at CM LIFE was wrestling. The first time I ever had to cover an event on my own it was the CMU wrestling at home vs. a MAC opponent. It was one win which would go onto be part of the wrestling teams 24 consecutive conference conquests. It also was one link in the chain of career.

My first interview with Head Coach Tom Borrelli, I remember holding onto my tape recorder and trying to jot notes at the same time, all the while shaking with nerves that were less steel and more silly putty.

Since then, I have interviewed Coach Borrelli countless times and he has always treated me with the same level of respect and professionalism, whether I was a first- year reporter struggling just to hold onto my recorder or I was LIFE Sports Editor.

I have covered and had the benefit of being part of four different teams at Central and each has taught me things that no amount of tuition dollars or class hours could of accounted for.

Whether it was Football Head Coach Mike DeBord teaching me what it meant to interview one of the most intense people I've ever come across, or the volleyball team and Head Coach Elaine Piha putting up with a reporter that honestly knew nothing of the sport he was covering prior to the season.

I am thankful to all the coaches and athletes who allowed me to learn while I went and not punch me in the face along the way.

I also am thankful to the readers of CM LIFE. As a sports fan, I know how much sports can mean to people and when a reporter messes up something like your favorite team. It can truly be frustrating and I only hope that I kept that frustration to a minimal level in my tenure.

I guess that’s what I’m trying to do with this column. Just like every writer that has written it before me, I’d just like to say thanks. Thanks for everything CMU, I only hope I can give something back some day.

LIFE Sports Writer Brad Bates can be reached for comment at sports@cm-life.com.