For the last three years, I’ve had the privilege of working with The Pepperbox to continue giving life to student journalism, and my experience has shaped me as a writer and a human. Throughout the last few news cycles, I’ve felt an immense pressure to leave PBX with meaning, and I’ve finally figured out how–I am going to use this final article to thank you all.
When I first got to Arcata High as a transferred sophomore, I didn’t have many friends or extracurriculars to stay busy with, however, a safe haven presented itself to me in the form of the newsroom. Having already taken a year of journalism at my former high school, I felt ready and excited to join the paper at AHS. Though I felt alone and afraid at the beginning of the school year, I quickly learned the routines and processes of journalism and began feeling like I had a place where I could simply be myself and be seen for that.
I’ll never forget what it felt like to be published in print for the first time: I’d written a bold debut for the feature section, a story sharing the words of students of color who’d been brave enough to speak on the racism they’d faced in our school community. I was nervous to put my name on an article of that nature, but to my surprise, I was met with a stream of support from teachers and staff members at school. I felt recognized and proud, and I’ve never looked back.
My first year in journalism was a bit different from how it is now–there was only one class period and we had a staff of only 30ish people. It made the newsroom an intimate space where gossip and laughter was constant (though we worked hard too). I felt cool hanging out with mostly seniors and my greatest mentor, former advisor Danielle Witten. Now, I know this isn’t about her, but I want to express from the bottom of my heart how important Witten’s support has been to me. Having dealt with many struggles in my personal life throughout highschool, Witten has never been anything but encouraging to me. If it weren’t for her incessant faith in me and my work, I can’t say I would be speaking to you as a soon to graduate managing editor.
The Pepperbox will forever be a part of me and I will cherish the opportunities it has given me for the rest of my life. I hope to write for the paper at my college and to carry the legacy of PBX with me forever. Thank you to my fellow editors and staff for all of the freedom you have given me. Thank you to my past and present advisors for being so willing to celebrate student voices and for your patience, I know it is not always easy. Finally, thank you to our readers, whose engagement and support has kept this paper going for almost a century. I wish you all the best, and remember: print never dies!