As I sit down to write my last ever Wyverns Tale for the KO News, I can’t help but look back on all the lessons and memories I learned during my time on the news.
Before I get too deep into this, I wanted to say that there is no way I’d be here writing this right now without Ms. Schieffelin. She is one of the most supportive and intelligent people I’ve gotten the privilege of knowing, and without her guidance, I wouldn’t have been nearly as successful in this role (or successful at all). No matter how random my questions or concerns were, she was always there to give me advice and give the best answers possible.
Beyond that, I was beyond lucky to have a fantastic editorial board, and three of the best managing editors. Alyssa, Tess, and Keira, you truly made my job easier every single month, and I am so grateful to have shared this past year with you all!
As a second-semester senior, who is graduating in less than 100 days, I can’t help but look back at my time on the news, which undoubtedly has been one of the most influential aspects of my high school career. When I took on the role of editor-in-chief less than a year ago, I never would have guessed that my last issue of the KO News would come so quickly. I, like many other seniors, got caught up in the frenzy that is junior spring and senior fall.
So, I will do my best to look back on some of the most important lessons I’ve learned during the year, both on and off the news. I could go on for hours about how the KO News has made me both a stronger writer and editor, giving me skills that I know I will carry with me for the rest of my life, but I also want to focus on some of the smaller things I’ve learned both on and off the news.
I have been on the KO News since I was a freshman, which was four whole years ago now, and it truly feels like yesterday I started writing opinion pieces. This brings me to my first point: live in the moment and don’t forget to enjoy things as they happen. Not only did my time on the news go by in the blink of an eye, the rest of my high school experience feels like it started yesterday. Time goes by quickly, especially when you fill your days with various activities and hobbies, so sometimes let yourself truly enjoy those moments as they happen. You won’t get these moments back, ever. They shape who you are; in the future, you will look back at these times as some of the best moments in your life.
Beyond just the cliche of “live in the moment,” which is something I wholeheartedly believe in, one of the most valuable lessons I learned from the KO News is this: sometimes you have to struggle in order to get to where you want to be. I am not going to sit here and say “nothing is worth it if it’s easy,” but I do know that you can’t learn unless you struggle to a certain extent, which is something the news has definitely taught me. Countless times I can remember staring at my screen trying to write an article, and it took me ages to come up with something that I was semi-proud of. I also know for a fact that I have mentioned this at least once before, but I spent hours struggling while I learned how to edit properly. But, the difficulty I faced then allowed me to grow into the writer I am now. So, if things get difficult, remember that more often than not it will end up being worth it in the end.
The last, and probably the most important thing I’m going to talk about, is the idea of not being afraid to take a risk or try something new. If I had gotten my way and stayed in my comfort zone, I again wouldn’t be here writing this. Taking those risks that are scary or even unthinkable at the time may end up being something you will go on to love. Taking journalism and publishing my articles scared me when I was a freshman, but now I can’t imagine not continuing on with journalism in the future. Taking the risk allowed me to find something that I truly enjoy and something that shaped me as a student, as well as a person.
So, as I wrap up my final editorial, I want to express my immense gratitude for being able to serve as editor-in-chief for the last year. The KO News has taught me more than I ever would have thought and shaped me into the person I am today, so for that, I will forever be grateful for this opportunity.
