The New York Times Student Journalism Institute

In the past, when I was told an experience was “like a dream,” my immediate thought was: “Find a better metaphor.”

But — and this may be the sleep deprivation talking — the experience at The New York Times Student Journalism Institute has been surreal. The last two weeks (has it only been two weeks?) have been an intense blur of adrenaline, emotion and hard work. “This is The New York Times?” I’d think. “This is The New York Times.” Cue slight panic, and a return to pushing myself as hard as I could.

Wandering around sunny Tucson, spending long days working and long nights talking, meeting some of the most incredible people in the business and hearing the words “We have a paper” — all of it has been, in short, too wonderful. When I’m under the gray, cloudy skies of Michigan four days from now, how am I going to convince myself I didn’t just imagine the whole thing?

And then I’ll look in my phone at all the new numbers that aren’t so new anymore. I’ll review the #nytsji and #nyttucson12 tweets and Facebook photos. I’ll look at everyone’s stories and photos and videos again. And then I’ll see my byline below the banner of the most impressive newspaper in the English language and I’ll get goose bumps and smile.

For all the cynics and the worriers out there, good news: Journalism is alive and well. There are 23 young people ready to carry on what we’ve learned in this city, some of us for the rest of our lives. Our eyes are weary but bright. We came, we saw, we karaoke-d, we conquered. We’re keeping the dream alive.