This year was unlike any year we’ve ever had. With the school being closed for most of our editions, from not being in class to having to teach through a Google Meet, this year has been a roller coaster. While this year has had its challenges, something I will miss dearly is spending the time with the staff and now people who I would call some of my closest friends. 

Through my two years in Print Media Workshop, I could have never imagined the impact this class would have on me and how it would shape me into the person I am today. When I joined the class, I never even thought I would hold a position such as Editor-in-Chief but I am so glad to have had this opportunity.

I first want to thank Mr. William Deal, who has never once stopped supporting what we, the FHS Press, do for this community. The school board and community also deserve a huge thank you for always allowing us to write about the district and tell the stories to let people’s voices be heard. 

To my advisor Mr. Aaron Fitzpatrick, thank you for always believing in me and pushing me to keep going even when you saw the pure frustration on my face. I don’t think you ever realized how much of a help and inspiration you have been to me over these past two years. Thank you for allowing me to have this life-changing experience. I learned so much about being a teacher and what a teacher means from you. A teacher should always be there for their students, no matter what, and that is something I will never forget and will carry on with me when I become a music teacher. 

Without this experience, I would have never gotten to learn what it is like to be a teacher and get the insight that has helped me become a better person. I have taken what I learned and taught my staff what I could. My hope is that I did them justice through my time as EIC and that I was able to teach them what I could. 

The staff this year consisted of four returners and 16 newcomers. I would be remiss if I did not heavily thank my right-hand person and managing editor, Sarah Levenson. Without her, I would have not made it through this year. Your undeniable and funny wit got me through the times where I needed it the most. I can’t thank you enough for all you have done alongside me this year and I can’t wait to see what amazing things you will do next year. 

I also need to thank Jessica Majors and Keith Pawlowski, without the two of you to help Sarah and me, I’m not sure where we would be. With 16 new people coming into the class, I thank you for helping in any way you could to make their transition into this class as smooth as possible.

To my editors, Pawlowski, Paige Young, Ashley Imhoff, Alexa Davis, Pogue Regan, Leannah Messenger, Chloe Wolf, Luke Snavely, and Alexandra Mizzelle, I thank you for your hard work through this past year. I am so very proud of each and every one of you and I am so grateful to have watched you grow in this class. The amount of hours you put into the layout, using InDesign, and asking for help at the beginning of the year is something that I admire and can’t thank any of you enough for. 

To the rest of my staff, Kinsley Aswani, Megan Evans, Abigail Ketterer, Majors, Kaylee Ostrowski, Brigette Richard, Dylan Scheel, Gracie Shane and Mikalah Smith, thank you all for the wonderful year we have gotten to have. I am proud of the work you have all created this year. It still feels unreal most days that I have gotten to call myself your EIC these past nine months. You have all blown me away with the talents you all bring to the table and it saddens me that this is our last newspaper together.

Some of my favorite memories that I have spent with this staff will be ones that I hold dearly. One of them being our random game nights we would have and even using the Journalism Camp (J-camp) Google Meet link after school so that I could help each and every one of you if you ever needed it. Especially us acting silly within the classroom, and even staying at the school until midnight to submit the yearbook. But my favorite by far is how we somehow managed to convince Fitz to let us get a fish and name him Mr. Fishpatrick (which it is kind of a miracle Fishpatrick is still alive). Nothing will ever be as memorable as those times I have shared with these amazing people. It has truly been an honor to get to call myself your Editor-in-Chief (EIC).
Finally to the readers of this publication, thank you for always supporting the FHS Press. Without you, this paper would not serve the purpose it serves now. We would not be able to serve our mission and bring the news to you about the district. So from the bottom of my heart and the staff, thank you. 

I truly could not have asked for a better staff, district and community to serve through these last nine months. It has been an honor to get to do this and I am excited to see where the FHS Press goes from here. Thank you again!