Senior Columns

Being lucky enough to be the faculty sponsor of The Paw Print  is definitely the best part of my job at Pleasure Ridge Park High School. Not only do I get to relive my Journalism days from when I was in college (Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU) but every year I am renewed with hope for the future. These students are some of the finest that PRP has to offer. Each year I am astounded by the intelligence, creativity, and work ethic The Paw Print  staff demonstrates. I’ll miss this year’s staff, but look forward to next year’s talent. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your growth and creativity. 

It’s finally the end of the year. The four long years I've had at PRP have definitely been a roller coaster. I can’t say that every memory here at PRP was good, but I can say that I 100% have learned from all of my experiences here. Every year at PRP was always an eventful one. I came into The Paw Print  freshman year, when Mrs. Fox was our teacher, left, and rejoined my junior year and it was one of the best decisions I have made while I’ve been here. When Maddie and Ms. Scott-Berger passed down the editor-in-chief position to be I honestly felt honored and I couldn’t thank them enough. With all this being said I want to say thank you PRP and thank you to everyone I have met along the way. 

To all the underclassmen, don’t take high school for granted. I always dreamed of the days I’d be in high school and now it’s over in the blink of an eye. I will say not everything is going to be easy, but I promise you’ll get through it, just like I did. PRP has shaped me into the person I am today believe it or not. I am currently committed to Georgetown College for my athletic and academic performances because of PRP. With all this being said I just want to say, good luck you got it!

It is a bittersweet moment to be writing my senior sign-off for PRP's Paw Print. The Paw Print  has brought me close to the amazing senior staff members. Each of these people has helped push me through the senioritis I have experienced, and together we formed great friendships. To Ms. Scott-Berger, thank you for everything you have done for me to help me grow my writing skills. To the upcoming seniors, my best advice is to make memories and have fun. Senior year goes by too fast to spend it in regret. 

I would like to use my space to give a huge thank you to everyone here at PRP who has made my last two years feel special. Thank you to my friends at both The Paw Print  and WPRP  for pushing me to be creative. Thank you to Mrs. Scott-Berger for allowing me to embrace my empathetic-older-sister side with my advice column, Talk to Tyra. I also like to thank everyone who read and submitted their stories. I hope you guys continue to seek advice through your peers, as it's one of the ways we build community and continue to make PRP a safe space. 

Seniors, this chapter is coming to an end, but the story we will write is just beginning. Every experience lived in our classrooms has prepared us for a bright future that awaits us. Let us proudly carry our roots and the passion that has driven us this far.

We are deeply grateful to the teachers who guided us with patience and dedication on this journey. Your support has been a beacon of our growth, and without you, this path would have been much more difficult.

Today, we must say goodbye to The Paw Print, a space that gave us a voice and allowed us to share our essence. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this great family. To those who remain here, we encourage you to join us next year and continue weaving stories worth telling.

Looking back at my high school years is emotional, embarrassing, and prideful. I have grown so much and done such amazing things. Even though I am ready to go and be in the real world, there is a bittersweet feeling of leaving this life behind. I hope that future Panthers will keep my passions alive and continue the Leftist Lair behind me with my continued passion. I have gotten so many different opportunities through this school, and I am proud to have been a Panther. To my fellow seniors, I'll see you at the graduation stage. To everyone else, this is goodbye. 

Auf Wiedersehen.

As the school year comes to a close, I reflect on my final year at PRP and my last year of high school, and it feels surreal. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my parents for their invaluable lessons, support, and guidance; I owe my growth to them. I also thank my friends for their unwavering support throughout this journey; your presence has meant the world to me. Lastly, I appreciate my teachers for sharing their knowledge and helping me along the way. In closing, I say goodbye and thank you all for being a significant part of this incredible experience.

My time at PRP with The Paw Print  has sadly come to an end. During these past three years with Ms. Scott-Berger and my peers, I have learned so much. While I have gained a great knowledge of the journalism industry, I have also gained much more. The friendships I've made will last far out of high school.

Ms Scott-Berger has been such an incredible teacher. She has shown me that it's okay to have strong opinions and be confident. She is not afraid to be herself and I wish more teachers were as colorful. She truly has made an impact on me for the better. Thank you to Ms Scott-Berger and the entirety of The Paw Print  staff. 

The Paw Print  has been a priceless experience. When I thought about journalism, I did so superficially; I believed it was only about writing, but I quickly discovered it's  about truthfully listening. What began as a curiosity soon evolved into a respect and admiration for the power of stories. I've come to realize that journalism is an opportunity to listen, comprehend our community, and to identify stories that bring us together with empathy and respect.

My brilliant classmates inspired me everyday. It was a pleasure to hear their meaningful debates and to share their enthusiasm for journalism. You guys have my greatest admiration.

I leave with a heart full of thankfulness.