Letter from the Senior Editor

Dear reader, t’s hard to put into words the loss that the Coronavirus outbreak has brought the class of 2020. For some seniors, it’s the spring sport season. For all, it’s graduation and prom. For me, it was being able to print and distribute my fnal issue of The Apollo to Westside’s student body.

When I say it out loud, it sounds petty and privileged. It’s not like I need to print The Apollo to feel special. I already feel lucky enough to have gotten the chance to print four issues of The Apollo prior to this issue and also to have the chance to publish this issue digitally. In this new normal of self-quarantine, it’s not as if there’s a digital option for spring sports, DECA competitions or prom. Chances are, graduation will be live streamed, and even then it’s not like that will feel normal, either.

Since I began The Apollo junior year, I have always loved producing this magazine. Over the past four years, I have dedicated so much of my time and effort to Westside’s journalism program, and with this being my senior year — and my fnal issue — I’ve really struggled to complete this. I’ve found it quite challenging to focus on anything related to school, because it’s hard to ignore what senior year could have been. However, as challenging as it has been to complete this issue, it has been important to me that I publish what I can.

Beyond the class of 2020, I feel that it is important to recognize that there is a greater loss that this pandemic has brought upon the world than just some school dances and extra curriculars. I feel that I don’t really need to go into the specifcs of that, because, quite frankly, the news does a better job of covering the serious side of this pandemic than I ever will.

As depressing as this letter has been, it’s also worth mentioning that during this time of sadness, art is a great tool to use to heal. Whether that’s drawing, photography, practicing music or writing, it all can be used to help one cope. For me, it has been producing this magazine. Since the start of The Apollo, but now more than ever, this magazine has been my creative outlet.

I hope this issue of The Apollo brings you a sense of relief and happiness, even if it’s only a little. It has been a pleasure to be the editor of this magazine, and I will miss it greatly.

Your editor, Vinny, signing off.