Ibarra: Managing editor finds home throughout her two years on student publications staff

At the start of my junior year, I was unfamiliar to both the halls and classrooms of PHS. 604 quickly became one of the few places where I felt the most at home.

I began my journey in student publications as a photographer my junior year. Being behind the camera was not a concept entirely new to me, but writing never came easy to me.

My shift from photojournalism came late. My schedule needed to be fixed three weeks into the semester, so I landed, by pure luck, into the Booster staff.

The past two years have only helped me turn my weakness into a strength. I was quickly adopted into the family of writers on staff and was fortunate enough to work alongside some of the smartest people I know.

After a year of learning to storyboard, interview people and write articles, I became one of the managing editors on staff my senior year.

Parting ways with the Booster Redux feels premature. I wish two more years still hung in the horizon.

I wish to do more — more edits, more stories and more headline writing.

But despite dreading my final byline with this staff, I know the world outside of high school won’t be as intimidating because of the skills I’ve learned in both 604 and 314.

I look back on my portfolio with pride. Feeling the finished print product in my hands and seeing my articles published has been the most fulfilling feeling I’ve felt.

From my very first story, about the soccer players on the team whose immigration story varied to Ethan Weirdt’s story about thriving despite his battle with Hodgkin lymphoma, my words have given light to the students who, otherwise, probably wouldn’t have had their voices heard.

I will carry on Smith’s lessons both from Canvas and come-to-Jesus talks with me to college and beyond.

I hope the future generations of the Booster staff get to experience the importance of student journalism and learn the life lessons taught nowhere else in school.

My time in newspaper has felt short, but the opportunities I’ve had in this program are ones I’d never exchange for the hours of sleep I could’ve had.

Thank you for to all my mentors: both staffers and editors who graduated before me. You’ve been a lasting influence on who I am today.

Thank you Smith for being so much more than an adviser to everyone in student publications.

And finally, I will always be grateful for everyone on my current staff. Thank you for all the moments, both big and small, we’ve had together. It is because of these times that our newspaper is so amazing today, and will continue to prosper.