Brigham Young University senior Joshua Palmer, also known by his rap persona, Jee Mingus, poses for a portrait Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019, at the Harris Fine Arts Center on the campus of BYU in Provo. Palmer, who studies commercial music at BYU, broke the Guinness World Record for the longest rap marathon completed by an individual on Nov. 14 at Lowes Xtreme Airsports in Provo. In the end, he rapped for about 30 hours.

The year is coming to an end, and it feels like everything suddenly needs to be completed before the next decade begins.

A lot seemed to come to a head near the end of November. High school fall sports wrapped up, and winter sports have begun. Most of my assignments entailed either covering said sporting events, photographing more portraits than usual, or writing and photographing features for the front page, partially due to the holiday lull at the end of the month and our staff currently being down two people in the newsroom.

However, much of my mental energy was spent managing last month. Most notably, I made a lot of progress working on the Daily Herald's now annual Photos of the Year Magazine. Sifting through hundreds of images from myself, my former boss and freelancers, editing captions, re-toning photos and narrowing down the number of images was challenging while also keeping up with my daily assignment and management load, but I feel growth from the challenge. My work on the magazine will wrap up in mid-December, and it'll publish at the very tail end of the month.

The cold and snow rolled into Utah in force over the Thanksgiving weekend, and I'm looking forward to the winter season (not sliding on ice, though).

Lehi running back Carsen Manookin (8) dives over Timpview’s Vave Adolpho (13) for a touchdown during a state semifinal game between the Timpview Thunderbirds and the Lehi Pioneers held Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

Mountain View middle blocker Elena Wallace (30), right-side hitter Taina Riley (13) and setter Kaylin Scott (4) celebrate winning the first set during a 5A state championship match between the Mountain View Bruins and the Farmington Phoenix held Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, at the UCCU Center in Orem.

Porter Deru, 4, of Provo, tries to make a donation during the unveiling of Giving Machines, sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at University Place on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in Orem. The machines allow people to donate things from soap and clean water to pigs and chickens to people in need in Utah and abroad.

Cedar Valley senior Kennedy Hall poses for a portrait Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, at Cedar Valley High School in Eagle Mountain. Upon graduating high school, Hall plans to attend Utah State University to prepare her to pursue a career in the medical field. She hopes to one day become a trauma surgeon, and perform procedures that could’ve saved both of her late parents.

Timpview wide receiver Raider Damuni (3) briefly fumbles the ball, but the Thunderbirds recovered it, during a 5A state tournament quarterfinal game between the Provo Bulldogs and the Timpview Thunderbirds held Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at Provo High School.

Westlake libero Jostan Chibante (4) reacts after Copper Hills scored a point during a 6A state tournament second-round match between the Westlake Thunder and the Copper Hills Grizzlies held Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, at the UCCU Center in Orem.

Brigham Young University guard TJ Haws (30) goes up for a shot through contact from Cal State Fullerton guard Wayne Arnold (11) during Brigham Young University men’s basketball regular-season opener against California State University Fullerton on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, at the Marriott Center in Provo.

Brigham Young University fans cheer at the start of Brigham Young University men’s basketball’s regular-season opener against California State University Fullerton on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, at the Marriott Center in Provo.

American Fork defender Ragan Fuller poses for a portrait Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, at American Fork High School. A senior, Fuller has been chosen as the 2019 Utah Valley Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

American Fork defensive lineman Micah Iongi (76) reacts after the Cavemen fell to the Corner Canyon Chargers 49-14 in the 6A state championship Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

Pleasant Grove outside hitter Mia Peterson (16) hits the ball between Copper Hills middle blocker Addison Downs (11) and outside hitter Camilla Andam (14) during the 6A state championship match between the Pleasant Grove Vikings and the Copper Hills Grizzlies held Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, at the UCCU Center in Orem.

Pleasant Grove players dogpile in celebration after defeating the Copper Hills Grizzlies in four sets during the 6A state championship match Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, at the UCCU Center in Orem.

Alex Bardsley, of Salt Lake City, and his son, Benson, 2, spin an interactive lantern light display at Thanksgiving Point’s Luminaria on Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019, in Lehi.

Provo players take the field before a 5A state tournament quarterfinal game between the Provo Bulldogs and the Timpview Thunderbirds held Friday, Nov. 8, 2019, at Provo High School.

Brigham Young University forward Elise Flake (5) gets tangled up with University of Louisville defender Niamh Nelson (8) as she drives the ball toward the goal during a match in the second round of the NCAA Tournament between the Brigham Young University Cougars and the University of Louisville Cardinals held Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, at South Field in Provo.

Brigham Young University players surround forward Elise Flake (5) after she scored the first goal during a match in the second round of the NCAA Tournament between the Brigham Young University Cougars and the University of Louisville Cardinals held Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, at South Field in Provo.

Superintendent Joel Coleman explains features of the main lobby as construction continues on a new location for the Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, in Springville.

Arda Molen poses for a portrait in her Vineyard home on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019. Molen has sewn together and donated more than 5,000 outfits to girls in third-world countries and those in need.

Orem wide receiver Jaxon Williams (22) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown after making a catch during the 5A state championship between the Orem Golden Tigers and the Timpview Thunderbirds held Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

Mountain View outside hitter Mia Wesley spikes the ball as she poses for a portrait Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, at Mountain View High School in Orem. A senior, Wesley has been chosen as the 2019 Utah Valley Girls Volleyball Player of the Year.

Brigham Young University guard Alex Barcello (4) reacts after a play as he guards Cal State Fullerton guard Austen Awosika (10) during Brigham Young University men’s basketball regular-season opener against California State University Fullerton on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, at the Marriott Center in Provo.

Timpview running back Sione Moa (4) is pushed out of bounds on his drive upfield by Orem defenders during the 5A state championship between the Orem Golden Tigers and the Timpview Thunderbirds held Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

Orem players hoist up the championship trophy as they celebrate after the Golden Tigers’ 21-7 victory over the Timpview Thunderbirds in the 5A state championship Friday, Nov. 22, 2019, at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

S. Bryce Chamberlain, 87, poses for a portrait while dressed as Brigham Young on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019, at his home in Orem. Chamberlain was featured in "Man's Search for Happiness," shown by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, and has since starred in several other films. He also has performed international one-man shows as Joseph Smith, and after 40 years and the aging process setting in, also as Brigham Young.