When I reflect on high school and all the events that influenced me, The Observer will always come to mind first. During my freshman year, what started as just another class on my schedule swiftly grew into something so much more. The staff members in this room have become some of my closest friends over the last four years.
I was a little anxious at first. I wasn’t certain that I could write well enough or think of engaging story ideas. But when we started with our Radical Writes, our first interviews and silly articles, I gained knowledge about how to conduct effective research, create appropriate subjects and piece together a story. I developed my writing style, gained confidence and felt more confident in my writing.
But honestly, what made journalism so meaningful was not just the writing. It was the people. Some of my best friends came from this class and people I probably would not have met otherwise are now the ones I talk to every single day. That is something that I will always thank The Observer for, as it gave me some of my closest friends.
There are also so many specific memories that I will always carry with me. Whether it was being the Internal Communications Manager and putting together all the bonding activities or making the funny Instagram posts or even when we first started the TikTok account, making our first TikTok to the Kim Kardashian audio “welcome to my crib”.
Now that I am a senior, it is hard to say goodbye. I know that no matter where I go, nothing will ever quite match the feeling of being on this staff. I will miss the people, the process, the energy and the sense of purpose that came with every issue. But I also know that I am leaving with so much more than I came in with. I’ve grown, I have made lifelong friends, and I have been part of something truly special.
To The Observer staff—thank you. Thank you for every laugh, every TikTok, every commercial and every memory. I will always be proud to say I was a part of this staff, and I will carry it with me wherever I go.
