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SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — As I sit at my desk at The Tico Times, an English-language weekly in Costa Rica, I realize how lucky I was to work at the Daily Bruin.

I am lucky because working at The Bruin helped me get here, and because it gave me the skills to make the most of the experience.

And though I enjoy working as a journalist in Latin America, being a part of this small weekly also reminds me that The Bruin is unique.

At The Tico Times, the staff numbers about 50. We work on Microsoft Word and use bound paper archives. We have two editors, and reporters help with proofing.

When our paper comes out on Fridays, I often think proudly about the daily deadlines we made at The Bruin and the nationally recognized quality of our product.

I think about the lessons I learned and the wonderful, talented people I worked with in News and Copy (and the friends I procrastinated with in Photo, Design, Sports, Viewpoint and A&E).

With the help of outstanding advisers including Amy Emmert, T.J. Sullivan, Sam Gowen, John Mitchell and Abigail Goldman; every one of my editors, each of whom taught me something new; and each one of you who checked my copy or bounced my ideas, I feel that I had a first-class journalistic education.

On my third of three internships I secured with the help of my Daily Bruin experience, I feel prepared and excited to be entering the world of professional journalism.

Less than two months after leaving UCLA for good, I already miss our windowless dungeon.

Looking back from Central America, I can see that the stale air was irrelevant: 118 Kerckhoff Hall brims with vibrant idealism, professionalism and a camaraderie that made me love my time at UCLA.

If you’re just a sentimental fool like Foxman, e-mail him at

adam.foxman@gmail.com.