Henry's Goodbye Letter

Voices,

I showed up to my first ever Voices meeting 15 minutes late, and when I got there, people were already signing up for articles. I was greeted by a noisy room with a smartboard projecting a document that was already full of profile pictures in the corner, which turned out to be the sign-up sheet for articles. I stared at the floor as I asked Ms. Gentlesk for the Google Classroom code, which I knew she’d already repeated ten or twenty times. After I finally clicked on right link, I quickly put my name next to an article about Mr. Neale’s return to Masterman, because I knew people loved Mr. Neale and I figured that someone else would take it if I didn’t act quickly. Later that week, when I came into school early to do an interview, I stared at the floor again as I pulled out my laptop before our interview. I had to explain that my flip phone didn’t have a voice recording app, and that a school issued computer was the best I could do. But when the article came out, and I saw people reading it as they ate their lunches, I felt like the nerves were worth it.

By the time I was halfway through my sophomore year, I could write more quickly and interview more confidently. I felt like I’d found my lane writing op-eds about politics, and like I could interview like an adult. I was excited when Rick Krajewski consented to talk to me shortly after he won the election for State Rep of my district, and I felt like I had a chance to show off my hustle. I remember feeling like my questions were thoughtful and my tools professional (by that point I’d upgraded to an iPhone 7), and I felt like I’d really made him think during our interview. When I hung up the phone, I fancied myself a real journalist.

That brief feeling of self-satisfaction was pretty much the peak of my journalism career, as I’d find out over the next two years that I was much better as a writer than a supervisor. Our editing staff is what really keeps Voices afloat: Luiza, Ella, Natalia, and Gavriela are my lifeline when I’m in over my head. Not only are they all great technical editors, but the personal connection that they establish with our writers is what makes getting an issue out on time possible.

Sylvia, my co-editor in chief, contributes even more. In addition to being who I consider the best line editor Voices has, she is incredibly organized, thoughtful, and she does a great job managing relationships with Masterman admin. In 10th grade, her article about universal healthcare inspired me to start writing about political stuff. Now, she inspires me to be more organized and present in the Voices community. Without her, Voices would sink, and because of her, our juniors have some big shoes to fill next year. I’m confident that they will fill them, though, and I know that next year will be one of Voices’ best yet.

Thanks for an amazing four years,

Henry