While scrolling through a list of cliche “leaving high school” quotes to add to the sentimental feel of this article, it suddenly hit us: after today, there will be no more quotes. After this article, there will be no more designing layout, no more scrambling to find pictures, no more Patriot Press laptop cart, and no more editing articles. The impact of the realization hit us like a ton of bricks, and try as we might, we couldn’t possibly find a quote to encompass years full of deadlines, post-it note pranks, worm mascots, and the unbridled joy that we found with The Patriot Press. As we prepare to say goodbye and leave behind the unforgettable memories we have made over the last few years; our biggest hopes remain that we will leave behind something more. We hope to leave behind a legacy.
Being an Editor comes with certain obligations, be it writing what feels like 1,000 stock articles that rarely end up getting used, being held accountable for every step (and misstep) of the publishing process, and constant delegation through splitting up pages and making sure someone draws the short straw and writes a sports article. With a position that carries so much responsibility, it can be challenging to take a step back, breathe, and remember all the small moments that make up the entire experience. As an Editor, you don’t really get that moment until the fast-paced bustle dies down and the end of the road appears within view.
Our experiences in The Patriot Press reminded us of the quote, “Enjoy the little things in life because one day you'll look back and realize they were the big things.” Though we did say that no quote will ever be enough to describe our years here, we think that this one still holds true and has from the very beginning. Julia joined this course believing that she would learn the ins and outs of informative writing while attempting to majorly cut down on article length. Daniela wanted to make the jump from writing science fiction novels to more serious journalism articles. Ash wanted to find a place where he could begin writing again, rekindling a long ago burnt-out flame.
In the end, we found so much more. We wrote about the amazing students and teachers in our school and the diverse projects they’ve undertaken to help our community: composting programs, 5K’s to benefit mental health awareness, murals, and more. We interviewed students about racism and other social issues at AFHS, giving voice to the subjects that many find difficult to talk about. In doing so, we found our own voices, and our own causes to fight for. We built up true friendships out of the most incompatible personalities—arguments and all—while improving our writing skills immeasurably, and most importantly, gaining an understanding of the horrifying evil hidden in the word is.
Leaving behind friends from high school proves difficult enough, but leaving behind a family may be one of the most painful parts of moving forward we’ve ever faced. Nevertheless, we have hope for the years to come, knowing that we will still have a family back at AFHS to return home to, a family we found through The Patriot Press.
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