Before I even received my acceptance letter to the University of Virginia, I knew I wanted to be on The Cavalier Daily. I got into journalism during my senior year of high school, and was immediately hooked. My work saw me meeting new people, highlighting deserving stories and seeing the power of my words. The most rewarding feeling came each time I picked up a freshly printed newspaper and saw my name — Leon Arceo — boldly printed in black ink. I still remember when I visited Grounds for the first time in the summer leading to my first year, stopping in my tracks when I saw a dark blue newspaper box and telling my mother that my name would be in this paper. It became a dream to, one day, be able to tell people I was a member of the Cavalier Daily.
I started writing this parting shot at 3:30 a.m. — exactly 13 hours and 29 minutes before the deadline. Nothing I am not used to though. Working under pressure has been second nature for the past eight semesters, ever since I joined The Cavalier Daily in my very first semester. Honestly, I can’t imagine a more fitting way to close out my journey than rushing through an article the night before its due. During my time, I was an Arts & Entertainment senior writer and Spanish translator. Photo staffer turned photo editor. I have written 20 original articles and translated more than I can count. With my trusty little Canon Rebel T100, I captured countless performances, landmarks and sporting events on Grounds, executing almost every single assignment under a tight deadline of 24 hours with ease.
While my time at The Cavalier Daily has been filled with unforgettable moments, it hasn't been without its difficulties. At times, I became frustrated with this organization. I became frustrated as many of my articles were delayed, struck down or didn't take the direction I initially hoped. I grew frustrated with the lack of coverage on diverse topics — particularly stories centered around the hip-hop genre and minority artists, which I felt deserved more attention. I became frustrated when I would produce content over three desks and feel like I was not being recognized.
The Cavalier Daily taught me that the things you are most passionate about are the ones that will test you the most. And that's a good thing. Rather than take a step back, I pushed forward. I still wrote new articles, I covered topics that no other writer pursued and I worked my way up to new positions on the paper. With every step up came the opportunity to cover even more topics and have a chance to call the shots. My ascent through the Cavalier Daily’s ranks allowed me to have a larger say in what topics would and would not get published. I saw an opportunity to inspire change from within and direct our attention to the causes nearest and dearest to my heart. I am glad I never took a step back as this push past frustration led to so many benefits.
I loved working alongside alumnus Omari John on the Arts & Entertainment desk, where we pushed each other to tell stories that deserved more attention — like his piece on Akimi Gyamfi and my coverage of the Rap Lab, a space that helped amplify voices like hers. That shared passion for storytelling sparked a friendship so strong, I recently had the honor of attending his sister’s wedding. The paper would connect to so many inspiring individuals with one of my favorite moments being the time that I met alumnus Wayne Barnes. What began as a quick 15-minute interview turned into an hour-long conversation about his childhood, his journey at the University and his music. What started as simply doing my job quickly turned into building real, lasting connections.
I loved the places I was able to travel with a media pass — from a private tour of The Paramount Theater to one of the biggest football upsets in recent years against the University of North Carolina, providing visuals for those who could not experience those moments firsthand. When I first started photographing, it was just about getting the shot and moving on—but every now and then, I’d capture something special. Moments that, to this day, University students still remember and talk about.
I love that I have a core memory of sitting in my first A1 meeting and hearing Ava MacBlane — former editor-in-chief — credit me as one of the most decorative and lucrative members of the The Cavalier Daily. These moments showed me the beauty that comes from pushing through frustration — the joy, the lasting connections, and the realization that art isn’t work. It’s pursuing your passions in full motion, impacting not only myself but those of my community.
My time at The Cavalier Daily has reflected every single emotion — love, frustration and most recently, sentimentality. I will miss this paper and all the desks I joined. Throughout my time on the paper, I juggled my commitments to pursue other interests, leaving Arts & Entertainment and Spanish translation in my third year.Though my time as a writer eventually paused, it opened the door in other creative areas.
The Cavalier Daily gave me the platform to evolve from staff photographer to a professional one, capturing moments at events I was later hired to shoot. The photo desk built tens of connections to the people and organizations that still support my craft today. The Cavalier Daily became a creative playground, bringing all my artistic interests together in one space.
Whenever I list the titles I held during my time at the paper, I’m often met with surprise — or even sympathy — for taking on so much. But the truth is, it never felt like a burden.
I’ve been looking forward to this moment ever since I discovered what a parting shot was. I imagined that writing one would be an immense moment of pride and jubilation — an opportunity to summarize my achievements and reminisce on the progress I have made. But today, I feel humbled and inspired. It was an incredible opportunity to be able to surround myself with talented and dedicated members of the University serving a common interest.
As I write this parting shot, the clock is moving closer to 5:00 p.m. — the deadline for this article. As I once again go through the familiar routine of submitting my draft, addressing feedback and patiently waiting for my work to be published, I can say with pride — I would do it all again. I’d meet the same incredible people, both within and beyond The Cavalier Daily. I’d engage in the same arguments over the comments on my articles. I’d take on more than any student probably should — juggling three desks and eventually stepping into an editor role. And I’d do it all again because my time on The Cavalier Daily never once felt like work.
Leon Arceo was Photo Editor for the 135th term of The Cavalier Daily, a Arts & Entertainment staffer for the 132nd, 133rd and 134th term, a spanish translation staffer for the 132nd, 133th and 134th term and photo staffer for 132nd, 133rd, 134th and 136th term.
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