So long

Photos by Thad Allender as he leaves for New York

In third grade at Protection Middle School, my teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. “A psychologist,” I said, without fully understanding what psychologists actually did. What I knew of the profession seemed intriguing: To study the human mind and human behavior. But thanks to art classes and a subscription to National Geographic, I got distracted and became a photographer instead.

During the past three years, I’ve had the opportunity to work as a photographer for the Lawrence Journal-World in my home state, covering everything from rattlesnake roundups to my alma mater’s bid for a national basketball title. I was asked by colleagues to put together a collection of photographs as a “farewell” as I leave for New York City to continue my career in photography. Enjoy. – Thad Allender