I had no idea journalism would make such an impression on my life over these last four years.

Without journalism, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It sounds kinda silly that a school elective could alter my life so drastically, but journalism has done just that. All the interviews, transcriptions, stories, pages, meetings, design nights, work Saturdays and sheer hours of work have grown me into . . .  well, me.

I’ve received a lot from this craft, but I’ve attempted to use it to give back to my community as well. Before I started this year, my first year as editor-in-chief and last year as a high school journalist, I decided my goal would be to “provoke meaningful discussions on campus and in my community.” I figured that all the work, time and effort I had poured into journalism to that point and would pour in over the coming year would only be worth it if they had a purpose. If they made a difference. If they changed my community for the better. If they sparked real conversations.

I hope over these past four years and this last year especially that I have done that. And I am grateful to my adviser, Ray Westbrook, Headmaster David Dini, my managing editors, Jamie Mahowald, Henry McElhaney, Sid Sinha, and the rest of my staff for partnering with me in this goal to give back to St. Mark’s.  

To have real conversations.