senior letters / the standard / senior issue 2021 | 3
senior letters
the seniors of the newspaper staff share their final thoughts on their high school journalism journey
Keithan Sharp
After many pitches, interviews and rough drafts, my journey in newspaper has come to a close. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spent in room 118, and the lessons I gained as editor-in-chief are endless. I set out this year to accomplish something in newspaper. I didn’t want to be just another editor or the one filling up the position for 2021. I set out to create the very best version of The Standard, to balance many different perspectives and to do my part to inform, inspire and, hopefully, entertain the school. I can say with full confidence that I am pleased with the job this year’s staff did. We created five great issues, in addition to a one-of-its kind special edition issue for the 2020 Election and a senior issue for the class of 2021. We did all of this in an extremely precarious educational environment, shifting from virtual to hybrid to in-person, but we never let the challenges get to us, and we finished every task at hand. None of this would have been possible without the guidance of Mrs. Chushuk, who led us through every issue and helped us navigate the year. It took a special kind of staff this year, too — a staff that could work remotely and figure out a way to finish the job even when there was nobody in the room to ask for help. We did it, though, and I am honored to say I was a member of The Standard. I may be done with newspaper, but hopefully the success we had this year will carry on to the next staff, and we can improve every year. As I continue on to future endeavors, I will be focused and motivated for what’s to come, but I won’t forget where I come from, either. Luckily for me, the newspaper will always be a part of who I am.
