Although I am super excited to go to NYU this fall and start a new chapter of my life in the city, I’m really going to miss the community I found at WHS. Not everyone is lucky enough to say that they made lifelong best friends in high school, and I definitely am. 

High school is a time of confusion. You’re meeting new people, finding your place, and navigating a new school— all with fears about getting into college hanging over your head. As a terrified freshman, Journalism I in room C115 was my safe place. I could always talk to Mrs. Stoker, or channel my feelings into an article. Having a supportive community in a class that I genuinely enjoyed was what got me through freshman year. When I wasn’t in Journalism, I found a second home in the Center Stage productions. I was able to act and sing, which had always been my favorite activities, and I grew closer with the people that I now call my best friends. Between the Lobby Observer and Center Stage, it was impossible to feel alone.

Senior year brought a variety of new struggles. Most of my friends had graduated in 2024, so I went into senior year dreading it. I was also beginning the horrible process of college auditions, which brought far too many late nights spent filming prescreens and crying about them. This past fall was one of the hardest times of my life, but also taught me some really valuable lessons.

First of all, don’t close yourself off to connecting with new people. You’re not going to lose your current friends by making new ones! With many of my friends off at college, I formed new friendships and strengthened old ones. I now have amazing friends in my graduating class, and am also able to spend time with my other friends who are coming home for the summer. 

Second, don’t let other people’s opinions get to you. There are always going to be people who will disagree with what you’re doing or thinking. Living in fear of judgement only holds you back from living your life to the fullest. If I had let worries about what other people think stop me, then I wouldn’t be pursuing the major I’ve always dreamed about. At the end of the day, it’s your choice what you do with your life— so pick what makes you happy.

Finally, find joy in little moments. It’s amazing to look ahead and think about how good life is going to be, but that can make you forget how good life is. Don’t waste time thinking only about the future— life is short, and will pass by faster if you don’t appreciate every minute. 

Thank you to Ms. Conrad and my Advanced Journalism class for giving me something to look forward to every single day. I’m really going to miss our class discussions, both the productive ones and the not-so-productive ones. I also want to thank Mrs. Henderson, Tim, and Aidan for helping us so much with our broadcasts and newsreels at Westborough TV. Thank you for being patient with us and teaching us how to edit, and always accommodating our uncertain schedules.

I personally believe that the journalism program is one of the best things that WHS has to offer. I have learned so much from working with all of these amazing people, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us. I’ll miss our trips to Westborough TV, and our adventures through the halls trying to find people for the Tiny Mic segments— but the motto “maximize truth, minimize harm” will follow me through the rest of my life, whether I am telling a story on paper or on stage.