Goodbye Letter: Mariacristina Calcagno

Dear Voices staff and Masterman readers,

Fundamentally, journalism enables an exploration of communities, and only when facts circulate and opinions propagate will we be able to understand the root causes of issues and devise creative solutions. Though news outlets are becoming increasingly partisan, I don’t perceive a threat to the public’s value of journalism.

But somehow, student journalism can feel neglected, viewed as an extracurricular with little benefit extending beyond the writers or as a publication that should cater to pure entertainment rather than information. 

What Voices has taught me is that student journalism also holds deep potential as a catalyst for change. At Masterman, my greatest hope is that our readers feel like their opinions matter—everything from their story, achievements in and out of the building, worries about the city, and input on the school—and that Voices can inform and translate viewpoints into print to spark discussion.

I am beyond grateful for the team we had this year as we worked to elevate Voices to cover a range of topics as thoroughly and timely as possible each month. But journalism doesn't work without its readers—so thank you to everybody who filled out one of our surveys, was interviewed, or simply picked up an issue to read through it this year. 

Thank you especially to my co-president, Jocelyn, for being by my side in any Voices mission—your commitment and dedication to this school on every level, in and out of Voices, constantly inspires me. And thank you to Ms. Conklin, Mr. Gilken, and Principal Laurie for your unwavering support, even when we knocked at your doors in the middle of your already busy days. And to Kimathi, Maha, Rowan, and Annabelle—the 2025-2026 Voices leadership—I’m excited to see how Voices grows and expands next year and in the years to come! 

It’s been an honor to be a part of Voices,

Mariacristina