Finally, the time has come: this is my last story ever for the PCM Outlook. This isn’t even really a story, it is actually a column. I want to take this opportunity to reflect on the last three years and thank those who helped me along the way. So much has happened since then and I have grown (mostly for the better) so much. 

I joined Journalism my sophomore year in the 2020-2021 academic year. I walked into class in late August on the first day of school and I remember looking around amazed. I saw Bess Telfer and Dylan Warrick and I was honestly intimidated because to me, they were seasoned pros who wouldn’t have any time for me. They were editors and I figured they wanted things done a certain way. Because of that, I was reserved for most of sophomore year. I kept to myself and turned myself in on time. But towards the end of that year, I started to realize that Bess and Dylan were only human and just trying to figure out life like the rest of the sophomores in the class. Unfortunately, I figured it out a little late and never really got to know them, which I regret. All in all, the year was a learning experience that I am grateful for because I got the chance to try everything so I knew what I was good at for my junior and senior years. 

My junior year the whole class hit the ground running. By that I mean that we started writing and videoing stories much sooner than we did my sophomore year. That was probably because the class was about 80 percent juniors, myself included, who all knew what we were getting ourselves into. We more or less took over the class and covered whatever we wanted. It was awesome. My friends Jack and RaeAnn were the new editors for ThunderTV and The PCM Outlook printed edition, so I was answering to them. The editor for pcmoutlook.com was Chris VerHeul and he taught me so much about journalism. Part of what he did for me was film most of the transitions I made in my ThunderTV segments. I was so camera shy but did ThunderTV anyway to stay well rounded. Chris knew that and whenever he filmed me he would say “one take, just get it done in one take.” In other words, acting like this video was my last chance to get it right. It taught me that life doesn’t always give me second chances and I might as well put my best foot forward all the time. But more importantly, towards the end of the year, Chris’s trust in me as a journalist had grown and he started training me to be the pcmoutlook.com editor the next year. Everything Chris said he was going to do happened and his work, especially his belief in me as a future editor was incredible and I can’t thank him enough. I was sad to see him go. 

Finally came my senior year. I remember when Mrs. Grett told me I was going to be the website editor because for the rest of the day, I was in another world. So this is what being an editor is like, I thought. It turns out that it was really just more grunt work. But it was grunt work I cared about! For the past eight months, I have been diligently working on the website and posting stories on it. The whole process has been fun and being a leader in class has opened up many new opportunities for me, which I am grateful for. All of that being said, I am ready to graduate and move on, but first I need some acknowledgements. 

First of all, thank you, Mrs. Grett, for letting me in to begin with and believing in me through it all. There were times I felt I didn’t belong, but now I know I always will. Your effort and time you put into this class did not go unnoticed. I’d also like to thank all the editors I’ve ever had: Bess, Dylan, Chris, Jack and RaeAnn. You guys’s edit suggestions were always spot on and you shaped me into the editor I am today. Big shout out and thank you to Olin Meinders. Back in 2019, you gave me a glimpse of what journalism is all about and it sparked my interest in it. In a way, I owe everything I’ve accomplished to you. Also thank you to my family for supporting me and giving me recommendations on who to interview for stories among other things. Next I would like to thank anyone I have ever interviewed. Just know you were part of the dream that I am now living. Your cooperation has always made my stories way better. I also want to thank anyone who consistently reads The Outlook in print or online. You guys are the reason I do this. Finally, I want to thank the PCM High School students and community. You are all the reason I do this, so thank you for being fun to cover in the news. After I graduate, remember to keep being safe, respectful, responsible and kind. This is it for me now. So long, PCM. Keep being you as everyone else is already taken.