Attending Baruch College
If you would’ve told my freshman year self that I would be sitting here, writing a farewell to all the lessons I learned during my years at The Courant, I would have definitely believed you. The path I chose to get to this point though, I would have not. It was not a coincidence that I chose The Courant as my first choice club in high school. My freshman year, I was the clueless girl in the doors of the Publishing Suite asking Mrs. Semple for pitch suggestions, not knowing how this one club would change her experience and perspective on everything.
My biggest piece of advice to underclassmen struggling to find themselves is that reaching out and trying new things that you don’t feel fully comfortable doing is what helps you grow; That’s what I did and The Courant helped me get my voice out there and make my confidence higher with every article that was published.
Through my experiences in The Courant, I grew as a person. The various interviews I had to conduct, talking to a huge spectrum of people, managing deadlines and corrections all brought me to one conclusion: my voice has power. The stories I wrote were never groundbreaking but instead they touched many people and the feedback that I receive on each one motivates me to write more and more. I’ll continue to write and feed the passion that lives inside me. I’ll definitely be checking in on the future writers of The Courant and reading all the wonderful stories that are yet to come.
I would like to thank Mrs. Semple for not only stirring up a bigger love for journalism inside me (that I did not know I had) but also making me a better person. Not only did you give me a space where I can thrive but you also gave me the opportunity to grow myself. Without your support, our daily conversations, endless laughter, and inside jokes I don’t think the growing positivity and motivation I have toward my passions would be there!
To Ms. Ramirez and Ms. Martino for being the language teachers that gave me love beyond their classrooms, thank you! Ms. Ramirez, your life experiences made me feel more motivated and you taught me more about how to grow as an individual rather than an object in society. Ms. Martino, my love of cultures and languages only grew once I stepped foot into your classroom. The positivity that was inside your classroom was immeasurable. Without a doubt I can say that my junior and senior years were immensely better with you both as my teachers. Your classrooms always put a smile on my face even when it was hard to. Thank you for leaving such a huge mark on me with your love, compassion, and positivity.
To Dr. Jeziorski who I haven’t known for long, but still managed to find a place within my memories of Commack High School. Thank you for always making your class interesting and enjoyable. All of our conversations and your genuine interest in my background made me feel comfortable and appreciated. Thank you for reigniting a passion for history in me and showing how vast and important our world’s history really is.
Finally to probably the most important place in the entire building, the Publishing Suite. Thank you for being the vessel throughout these four years. The screaming, laughing, crying that happened within that small space is immeasurable. The couch, desktop computers, candy, and unlimited pens all came together to form the comfortable and what I consider my second home, the Suite. 
