As I sit down to write my final piece for this publication, I’m reminded of all the times I stared at a blank Google Doc, unsure how to begin. Now, this feels like the hardest one yet.

     Journalism has been more than just a class or an extracurricular for me—it’s been a second home, a safe space, and a place where my voice found its strength. From struggling through my first article to leading interviews, late-night edits, and layout crunches, I’ve grown not just as a writer, but as a thinker, a listener, and a storyteller.

    To my fellow staff members, thank you for the laughs, the edits, the teamwork, and the snacks. To my adviser, Mrs. Mundorf, thank you for believing in my voice and pushing me to use it well. You taught me that words have power and that the best stories are the ones told with heart.

     I may be turning in my final draft, but the lessons I’ve learned here will follow me far beyond the newsroom. I’ll always carry the curiosity, the courage, and the commitment to seek the truth and to share it.

     Here’s to the stories we told, and the ones we’re still writing.

     With love and ink-stained fingers,

     Ava