Well, this is it, folks: our last hurrah, our final curtain call, our au revoir. The notion that this was the current staff’s final set of The Minuteman begged the question: what has our time here meant?

As with all endings, the conclusion of this staff’s tenure is bittersweet. The experience of running a high school newspaper can be frustrating, strenuous, and stressful. Still, when we do finally click “publish” after weeks of challenging work, a feeling of accomplishment pervades the staff. It is this moment of relief, of true self-accomplishment, that will mark the seniors’ memory of The Minuteman.

During the turnover time at the Academy, when club presidents pass the reigns to their successors, the new Student Council president is elected, and seniors prepare for graduation, we encourage the community to reflect on the positive lessons that can be learned at the close of a chapter. For us, we know the feeling of just reward and true dedication – and we also know the tough responsibility that accompanies a high-stress position. For seniors, what did you learn about yourself that will help you at the onset of your college career? Maybe it’s that you judge others too quickly or that in high school, you didn’t seek out your interests enough. For underclassmen, perhaps it is time to reflect on how you treat your peers, as Dr. Fowlin encouraged so powerfully. An ending is the perfect time for the beginning of change – seize the opportunity.

We hope that our product has been informative, entertaining, and a productive way to momentarily escape. We thank you for your overwhelming response in the past year, in which our website has at times received over 600 views in a single day. The community has truly made this experience worthwhile and meaningful.

Read, reflect, and begin something new,

The Minuteman