Dear East,
I think it would be an understatement to say that this year has been unusual. When I walked into the first newspaper meeting this year—teeming with writers, bagels, and general excitement—little did I know that our days of brainstorming in the computer lab with the iconic flowchart of editorial positions would be short-lived.
As a senior, I believe newspaper has seen me through my ups and my downs, both as a writer and a person. I started out in this club as a sophomore, passionate about sharing my love for reading through my book reviews. Honestly, I think I peaked as a dedicated writer that year. With my workload getting heavier and responsibilities increasing, I could not keep up with the amount of articles I wrote sophomore year. However, I tried to find other ways to be involved in the club and thus, landed the position of business manager junior year. As business manager, I enjoyed being on the front line regarding Coffee House and merch sales. I strongly believe that rushing to get orders in at Coffee Houses and coming up with peculiar combinations of food for the end of the night auction are the main ways we bond as a club and are some of my most cherished memories of being in newspaper.
Although no one else ran for the position, I am glad I made the last minute decision to interview for co-managing editor with Jaiha my senior year. What I have learned from being the co-managing editor this past year is probably greater than anything the first three years of high school have taught me in terms of leadership and responsibility. True, being a managing editor probably isn’t the most exciting job in the world and I won’t glorify it beyond what it entails: making sure everyone writes their articles by the deadline, formatting articles into Publisher, and constantly struggling to make sure that the paper has an even number of pages—arguably the hardest part of the job. Even though the work may seem monotonous at times, I believe the best feeling is when you see a printed copy of a new issue in the Commons and know how much effort has gone into each page. As much as it is a time-consuming position, it has proved to be equally, if not more, rewarding.
With this year coming to an end, I would like to thank several people who made my journey in newspaper meaningful and memorable.
To Jaiha: I could not have asked for a better co-managing editor. With how much I procrastinate on a daily basis, getting articles in Publisher with a short turnover time would not have been possible on my own. Also, thank you for giving me a ride home every Wednesday since sophomore year! I would not have been able to make it to the meetings as often without you.
To Gabe: You have been a great Editor-in-Chief the past couple years! You lead the meetings well and I appreciate that you make sure to check in on everyone. Thank you for answering any questions I had, giving me suggestions, and making sure the paper ran smoothly. Good luck and I can’t wait to see what you accomplish in the coming years.
Whether you’re here for the bagels or the banter, there truly is something for everyone at newspaper.
To our Editorial Board: Thank you for picking up the slack when we had a shortage of articles and editing your section on time. I would also like to thank you all for bearing with my incessant texts and reminders to write. You all have been an amazing part of newspaper this year and I hope to see those of you who are underclassmen run for a position on the editorial board again!
To our writers: Writing for the newspaper is undoubtedly a commitment of time and energy, and I cannot express how grateful I am that it was a commitment you were willing to make. Whether you had your article in a week before the deadline or got it in a couple hours before the paper was published, whether you wrote for each issue or have a single article to your name, newspaper would not be the same without you.
To Mr. Huber and Mrs. Lanzone: Thank you for always supporting me, giving me advice, and encouraging me to become a better writer and person. I may be a bit biased, but newspaper has the best advisors!
Finally, to our readers: Thank you for your interest in what we publish, and I hope you continue to stick around to read what your favorite writers have to say on the current events as we publish online.
Whether you’re here for the bagels or the banter, there truly is something for everyone at newspaper. Although plans for the upcoming year remain uncertain, we are proud to be one of the only clubs that can continue to function remotely. If you share the same excitement as me regarding either writing, filmography, Coffee Houses or bagels, remember that newspaper is always there for you.
Best regards,
Nikitha Kamath
