Time flies.
You hear it at every sports team banquet. Time is the most valuable currency, so stop and smell the flowers, and try to ground yourself in the present. I find myself writing this with two days of school left, and I’m confused how we got here so rapidly.
Don’t procrastinate, I promise it’s easier to complete once you get started.
As you stare at your to-do list, try not to get overwhelmed. Once you start the first assignment, the pile begins to appear bearable.
Don’t be afraid to ask others for help.
I spent a lot of time thinking I can do things better without help, but something extremely important I learned is that other minds work differently, and other minds offer other perspectives that you wouldn’t have thought of on your own. On each page of our print magazine, there is a page credit that goes to one person. However, the contribution of ideas and solutions comes from an entire team of journalists. I wouldn’t have been able to create such prideful pages had it not been for the help I had and the bouncing of ideas with my peers.
Participate in as many school events as you can.
A test grade does NOT define you.
Again, it does not define you. (But that’s not an excuse to not study. Study so you don’t let your future self down.)
Most of your regrets are things you don’t do.
Participate in spirit week. I regret not dressing up as a minion.
A piece of advice I read on TikTok is that the best things in life are often a bit embarrassing.
So dance, sing, laugh loudly and do the things that you’re worried you might get weird looks for. Also, reach out to people. Start a conversation with someone outside of your friend group. It may feel awkward, but I’ve made some of my closest friendships by talking to people who sit near me in class and those are the people I’m most sad to leave when I graduate.
Enjoy the poetry unit, participate in fishbowl discussions, don’t Spark Notes your English book – they can be fun, trust me.
It’s OK, and good, to change your opinion on something after finding out more information.
Focus on things you can control.
Once you turn in that test it’s out of your hands.
You can’t control other people’s reactions.
I learned that one through my most recent articles. It was the first time I had written something people were talking about, but that meant I had to navigate the negative reactions I received too. I even received a no trespass letter from RM, having upset the principal with my journalistic pursuits.
One of my most proud moments as a student journalist was realizing that people besides my small community of reporters had actually read and appreciated my work. I noticed when I put effort into something I truly cared about, that the work was seen, heard and talked about. The risk I took to cover a controversial topic that broke certain rules was an important step in realizing that dedication pays off.
This class has made me feel like I am a pillar in my community, and I have more to offer than just my school work. Mrs. Starr has taught me that regardless of being just a high schooler, the passion I put into my work is worth it and important. Every word you type in this class is important. As I learned here, journalism is a pillar of democracy, words are powerful and as journalists we hold the power of spreading truth.
