There is something bittersweet about writing this article. For the past year, this class has been more than just a newspaper staff to me. Somewhere between the deadlines, interviews, AP style corrections, podcasts, editing stress, random laughter, Pitch Perfect, and late article submissions, we became a family.
Being Editor-in-Chief was never about assigning stories or correcting grammar. It was about getting to know every single person in this room, your strengths, your humor, your growth, and the things that make you you. Every staff member brought something different to the Lariat, and that is what made this year so special.
Maria, you are one of the hardest workers I know. Your interviews are always strong, your writing continues to impress me, and I know you will do amazing as co-editor next year. You are determined, reliable, and always willing to help. I know speaking up in class can feel intimidating sometimes, but your ideas matter more than you realize. My final newspaper advice to you is to use fewer block quotes. I promise your own writing voice is strong enough to stand on its own!
Hunter, you have been in Lariat longer than everyone else, and your experience shows. Even though you may not realize it, you have helped shape this program. You can be hilarious when you want to be, and I know you are capable of leading next year. Know that leadership is not about demanding respect; it is about earning it. Meet deadlines, push others kindly, and remember that people respond better to encouragement! I know you’re going to do amazing things with the Lariat next year as co-editor!
Trenton, my newspaper best friend, I genuinely do not know how I would have survived this year without you. Thank you for helping assign articles, helping me through stressful moments, and always making time for Wordle competitions (that I always beat you at). You always met your deadlines and proved that I can count on you. I know you are capable of even more when you fully lock in during class and push yourself to get more interviews because your stories deserve depth! You’re going to be a strong staff member and contributor to the Lariat next year!
Teryn, you are one of the kindest people on staff. Whether it was helping make reels or simply listening when someone needed it, your presence mattered. You have such a calm spirit, and I hope in your future you speak up more and ask questions because your thoughts deserve to be heard. Never be shy, we’re all in this together! Thank you for being so kind, and you will be missed!
Isabell, doing the podcast with you has honestly been one of my favorite parts of this year. You are thoughtful, kind, and such a comforting person to talk to. Even when you are quiet, your opinions are always valuable. I hope next year you trust your voice more because people genuinely want to hear what you have to say. My final advice? Honestly, not much, you’re a strong writer. Make sure to review those AP style rules to make your writing phenomenal!
Kendall, thank you for making our class louder, funnier, and, honestly, more entertaining. Your music choices carried us through many workdays, and I know how deeply you care about others, even if you do not always show it openly. Keep working on those deadlines because your top potential is there. Your presence will be deeply missed by me. Never let your smile fade girl.
Averie, thank you for bringing your unforgettable energy to our class. You, by far, have some of the best writing I’ve ever seen. I love your over-the-top energy, and I hope it never leaves. I will miss you (and your cooking) next year. I hope life after high school treats you well and you leave a positive impact on the new people you meet, as you’ve left on us.
DeOmerie, your “Soul Food With De” devotion articles always stood out to me. I love how openly you share your faith because it brings something meaningful and different to our publication. You are funny, real, and bring energy into every room. Doing the podcast with you was always a highlight of my week. I will miss your lighthearted personality!
Aidan, even if you technically belong to yearbook, you will always feel like part of newspaper to us. You are one of the kindest people in our class, and your humor always made the room better. Honestly, I do not even have criticism for you. Just stay exactly who you are. You will definitely be missed.
And finally, Mrs. O, thank you for being the heart of this program. You pushed us to become better writers, better interviewers, and better communicators, but more importantly, better people. Even when deadlines piled up, articles came in late, or AP style mistakes drove you crazy, you never gave up on us. You cared about every story we wrote because you cared about the people writing them. Thank you for giving us the freedom to be creative, for laughing with us during the chaotic moments, and for creating a classroom that felt safe and welcoming every single day. I know teaching us was not always easy, but your patience, encouragement, and dedication made more of an impact than you probably realize. The Lariat would not be what it is without you, and neither would we. I hope you know how appreciated and loved you are by all of us.
To all of you, thank you.
Thank you for the laughs, the stress, the memories, the chaos, the inside jokes, the editing challenges, the missed deadlines, the successful publications, and every moment in between. High school moves fast, and one day this class will just be a memory we look back on. But I hope you all remember how important you were to this program and to me.
Lariat is not the articles. It is not the cameras or the headlines or the podcasts.
It is the people behind them.
And I could not have asked for a better staff to spend this year with.
With love,
Olivia Weiser, EIC
