Dear amazing adviser, future editor, or all members of The Eagle Edition Staff, past and present,

Hey, it’s Catharine here!

To reflect on what an incredibly meaningful year it has been, allow me to recall some of the best lessons and blurbs I’d like to share from my experience as editor.

As many of my 8th grade staffers will know, I spent the summer before the school year planning, researching, and meticulously aligning every last detail in preparation for my Passion Project. I contacted Ms. Parker, who by the way, is the BEST adviser and English teacher ever, in June, with an email with all of my ideas. After that, I texted and emailed a good 50 people with this idea that was already starting to take form in my mind.

I will spend the rest of my life forever indebted to the Eagle Edition, and what it has taught me about the journalism world, leadership, friendship, and most importantly, the act of learning through perspective. All of the meetings with my editors, hours spent planning, failed and successful ideas, interviews, people I was fortunate enough to meet, and the various all-nighters I’d pulled, all of it was certainly overwhelming, but each feeling of stress or worry was quickly replaced with gratitude.

Each time an article or photo was submitted, I was beyond excited to get it edited and ready to post on the website. And as I watched the staff grow from 10, to 15, to eventually almost 30 hardworking, incredible students, we all knew that that was precisely the product of hard work and dedication.

Now the single biggest takeaway I have was the fact that I learned how to be a leader. Now, for the first time, I was being asked questions, and being consulted for advice. Working with so so many talented people, I learned to take every idea into account. With so many different skill sets, this allowed for a publication that could be tailored to EVERYONE.

I could go on and on about how much this little paper means to me, because it truly, gave me so, so much. It was such a challenge and joy, at the same time, of my life to serve the Magnet community like this.

Each and every single idea I wanted to take on taught me something new. Whether it was a morning interview with a woman who’s wisdom and storytelling ability left me there for hours, or meeting with Ms. Parker to discuss the fundamentals of AP editing, or simply just snapping a photo at the Shamrock Shimmer and Shake, this experience has left me searching for words, just to portray the amount of gratitude I have.

To my editors: The rock, real glue, and TRUE, TRUE MVPS of this publication, you’ve dealt with a beyond crazy editor (me) and I could not be more proud of all of you! From shifting deadlines, to hectic schedules, to sticking with this paper even through Passion Project, there is no way I would have survived without you.

To the web wizards: Who are without a doubt people who have magical powers, Sam, Arnav, Peter, and Kendall, I’m talking to you, it is unbelievable how much talent you have!

To my advisor: AH! I’m going to cut the cheesiness, but Ms. Parker, just know that you have been more than an incredible mentor to me this year, and I am so excited to see where this will go in the future.

To the readers: You guys have given us so much support. Thank you for all the feedback!

And finally, to the next editor of the Eagle Edition: Thank you! Truly and simply, for taking on this project! Make it your own, and I wish you the best!

It has been an incredible honor to serve the Magnet this year.

With lots of appreciation, gratitude, and might I add a bit of sadness in her heart,

Catharine Li :)