At the end of my sophomore year, like every other student, I filled out an enrollment form for the next year, deciding it was really far time for me to take Newspaper. I subsequently found out that Newspaper was only being offered the same hour that French III was, and was heartbroken to have to choose between the two classes. Though some of my best friends were in French III, and one of my favorite all time teachers (shout out to Madame), my heart has always been with journalism. I need to thank Mr. McCleary, because instead of making me choose between the two classes he took the time to figure out a way for me to take them both. It’s teachers like Mr. McCleary who help relatively shy kids like me figure out where our passions really lie.

When I was little I wanted to travel the world in a van, and as I grew I decided I wanted to be a coroner, then an author, and now a journalist. I realized that I wanted to use my words to help people as much as they have helped me. I’ve grown a lot as a person to this point and that is in no small part due to the people I’m surrounded by.

When I first joined The Jag, I really had no idea how to write a newspaper article, so I want to thank Harper Stephens for being one of the first people to encourage me. Then as an editor I could not, for the life of me, figure out how to create my page on InDesign, so thanks to the other editors for stepping up and teaching me everything I needed to know (despite my being perhaps the most needy person ever).

I can attribute key pieces of myself to different people, and I know for a fact that my sense of humor comes from my friends, and in particular my girl squad. They constantly push me out of my shell and encourage my weirdness, without which I wouldn’t be the same. They’ve made me laugh so hard I cry (or more often, snort), challenged me to think deeper and were the first people I could speak candidly to about issues I previously had to keep silent. Thank you for all the minivan drives, helping me annoy people (especially Mr. Smith) to no end and making me feel like I’m a part of something that’s more than just surface level. I love you guys.

I know not every kid gets unwavering love and support from their parents, so I want to thank my mom and dad for helping me become everything that I am today. I’ve never had to wonder whether they have my back, which is something I think I take for granted too often. My family has shown me what it means to live a happy life and to be a good person, and because of that I’m ready for the future. I’m more than excited to start my life next year and major in journalism at Mizzou.