By Makala Finley
It’s been a year of ups and downs. From working on three-day deadlines, to arguing about who was going to take what story, and at one point being the only district school trying to balance both print and online newspapers, it’s no doubt that this year has been strenuous. Emotions have run very high, and the tension at times was almost unbearable.
Some say that often stress leads to great things and as this year comes to close I can believe this statement because I’ve seen it proven itself. My staff has exceeded my expectations over and over again, and I constantly want to push them even more. Not only did they successfully balance our print and online newspapers, with a little teeter-tottering in between, they also constructed a newspaper that won first place in the American Scholastic Press Association contest. As a very young staff, consisting of mostly sophomores, they went above and beyond my initial expectations.
As the editor-in-chief I often get the majority of the credit from outside sources such as teachers and administration, however without my valuable and hardworking staff I would be nothing. I work side by side with an amazing staff and assistant editor and an even more amazing advisor. I rarely express my feelings for people, because I’m not all that into mushy, gushy stuff but I owe it to them to know the impact that they’ve had on me and my senior year.
Lorenzo. My right-hand man, but also my biggest nuisance. Between our frequent quarrels we made a great team. I’m glad we’re able to put those past us, because we do get along great as individuals. You’re a kind-hearted person. You’re always there to make sure that I’m okay. I truly appreciate everything that you’ve done for me, and I am proud to say that I got to work with such a helpful person. I’ve seen your leadership skills develop in a way that not many sophomores can achieve. I wish you the best of luck in whatever you may pursue and I hope to see you continue to succeed in the stressful yet rewarding world of newspaper.
Juan. I don’t know where to even start with you. You’ve kept me sane throughout the year, and you did it quite well. Between my spasms of OCD and my crazy ideas you never gave up on me. You continued to just go with the flow. Even when I decided that we needed to go and talk to what seemed like every teacher and administrator you stuck that grimace on your face and picked on me the whole way there, yet you still helped me out. You’re one of those guys that I can turn to when I need help and I appreciate that. I’ve seen you grow so much as a journalist and I give you my utmost respect for your amazing dedication to our program.
Kristian. Your bubbly personality and eagerness to brighten people’s day has really helped me out a lot this year. Balancing work and school definitely started bringing stress to me, and you were always there by my side. You’re the sunshine of the staff. All of us can be in a terrible mood, and you’re the one that steps in with optimism and helps us see the brighter side of bleak situations. We’ve had our little disputes here and there, but it was only because I could see all of the potential you had and I wanted to push you to your limits. I’ve think I have done just that because you have really stepped up as a journalist since the beginning of the year. I really hope you continue on writing because the only place you have to go is up, and you improve with each and every story I assign you.
Brittany.Wow! You are probably one of the most willing people that I’ve ever met. I’m pretty sure that if I gave you the opportunity to design and write the whole newspaper, you’d jump on the opportunity. I know that when others shrink down at stories that need a writer, you are more than willing to pick one up. Telling you that you need to save some stories for other people is definitely a good thing. I appreciate and admire your willingness to help out where needed. I have no doubt that you will step up as a leader next year and I look forward to hearing about your future success.
Christina. I remember when you came into newspaper at the beginning of the year; you seemed the least bit thrilled to head out on your first interview and story-hunt. I could tell that you were nervous and that you weren’t too sure about going and talking to complete strangers. Now, at the end of year you’ll run all over the school stalking out any source you may need to make your story incredible. I admire that quality in you. Oh! And your flexibility in changing pages is phenomenal! When I changed your page completely on the first issue and you still picked up the design and made deadline, I was tickled pink. I knew then that you were a force to be reckoned with. I’m sad that you won’t be continuing in newspaper next year, but the help and knowledge you applied toward the program has helped it grow even more. I wish you the best of luck as you begin your medical classes next year, though you’re leaving newspaper I am glad you are going to be working on your future.
Richard. You’re superman! You write amazing sports stories- you are a sports writer to the bone. You were made to write sports stories, and I’ve seen you improve and improve on them since last year. Though you rarely talk, I can always hear those wheels in your head turning as you think of what you can do to help out. You never deny any of my requests to write stories, and I love your eagerness to write on a topic that many writers do not like. I’m not sure what I would do without my sports writer. Sometimes I feel a little guilty that I always thrust the sports stories onto you, but I know that the way you write them makes our paper appear to be on level much higher than high school. Plus, you seem to enjoy writing sports because you have a love for them. I’m ecstatic to see you continue onto newspaper next year and see you accomplish even more than you have this year!
Sam.I remember when I met you last year at the Journalism banquet. I knew that there was something about you that I was dying to unfold. We’ve became very close this year through newspaper and I am glad to be able to boast of your excellence. You’re my little “grammar Nazi” and the way you twitch at misspelled and misused words makes me smile. You’re a lot like me and I think that is why we get along the way that we do. From our “space treks” across campus, and avoiding gremlins living below the portables, our trips to interviews were never short of a blast. I’m glad that I have had the opportunity to learn so much about you and I have no doubt that you’ll make an amazing professional journalist one day. I think that what makes you such a great journalist is your willingness to connect on a personal level with each and every subject that you interview. All in all, I treasure our friendship and I wish you the best for your senior year!
Mrs. Boerger. I’ve always been told that as graduation approaches you begin to look back and think of the teachers that made a big impact on you throughout your school career. Though I’ve only known you for a year and a half I must say that you’ve probably made the biggest impact on me. You’ve taught me the importance of being a control freak and I think that I’m just a little more OCD than I was at the beginning of the year. Aside from that you are the most dedicated teacher that I’ve ever gotten the chance to meet. Whether we need you to stay until 10 p.m. and then wake up at 7 a.m. so we can finish the newspaper or we need you to look up names for us, you’re more than willing to help. You’ll easily put in a 60 hour work week just to see us succeed. Sometimes I wish more teachers were like you, but I’m extremely lucky to have had the chance to work side by side with you. I know that I can turn to you for future advice, especially if I plan to continue writing throughout college. I’m truly going to miss your teaching strategies, your optimism, your bluntness and your extreme sarcasm. Though when it comes down to it all, I won’t just miss those traits about you, I’ll miss you. I truly appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I won’t say goodbye though, because goodbye is forever, so see you later Mrs. Boerger. Thanks for everything this year!
This year has been one crazy ride. Thank you to all of the administration that has helped out our program, thank you to the businesses that have advertised with us, and thank you to all of the teachers that have put up with us knocking on their door and asking to interview students. And last but not least, thank you Madison students for providing us with great stories to write about. You’re the body of our newspaper and without you there would be no reason to write.
As this year comes to an end I reflect on all of the great things that happened and I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with people that accomplished the things that they did. I’ll truly miss my newspaper family, and having this role in the school made my last high school year the best it could be.