Jessica Woo’s Book Review – sounds familiar? That was my humble beginning. Towards the end of my sixth-grade year, I stumbled into the world of journalism. Through the demanding workload, occasional chaos, relentless rants, more writer’s block than I can count, I slowly made my way as a bushy-tailed editor-in-chief in the Jets Flyover. As I come close to the last chapter of my journalism career, I can’t help but reflect on what made my journey so memorable. 

What began as simple paragraphs–what I thought of the book, ratings between one and five, and awkward attempts to sound smart–turned into polished news stories, baseball talk, and even deep opinion pieces. Back then, I was a middle schooler with no idea of what even a lede was, let alone how to structure an article. But I was lucky. The first editor-in-chief I worked under, Alyssa, was the sweetest person I’ve ever met. With her constant guidance, thoughtful advice, and edits, she showed me what true journalism is. Looking back, it was Alyssa who first planted my passion for being a permanent part of this newsroom.    

My writing journey wasn’t easy – it’s been full of bumps, rewrites, drafts, and long work days. But every struggle was worth it, and despite the frustration and doubts I had within myself, my years were filled with laughter, unexpected friendships with people I never imagined growing close to, and memories that will stay with me long after I leave. 

Leanne, you’ve taken the Flyover to a whole new level. From earning Best of SNO recognition to collecting multiple writing awards, your grit and vision have transformed our paper into something people genuinely look forward to reading. You brought structure and your ambitious spark into the team, inspiring me and the entire team. I know the Flyover is in great hands, so I’m eager to see how it evolves under your hands next year. 

And Selina, if you had told me two years ago that the newsroom would be a place where we’d get so close, I would have laughed. But now, I couldn’t imagine my two years in the class without you. Your wit and humor have been the perfect therapy for stressful deadlines. You’re part of every fun memory I made in the newsroom – the Locket craze, Rummikub Fridays, and Harry Potter tests. Working alongside you pushed me to improve, as I think you’re a better writer than I am 🙂 I’m beyond lucky to have shared this chapter with you, and I hope to keep in touch as we move on to the next step of our lives.

Anna, my furry friend, editing buddy, and the person I could rely on any time, thank you for all the effort you put into every article. You never hesitate to stay up late, reread, and edit pieces I never told you to look at. Even though we often go off tangent with our side conversations, we truly make a great team, and your presence every first period helped me fulfill my role as editor-in-chief. I won’t write too much since I know you’ll cry (just kidding), but I’ll miss our edits, chats, and you most of all. 

Eugene and Ethan, I loved the small amounts of gossip we spilled during the most chaotic times. Eugene, your calm presence made even the most frantic days manageable. Please keep in contact since I enjoy our occasional 고민상담 (counseling sessions). Ethan, your jokes and interesting (sometimes dumb) questions always crack me up, and thank you for digesting all of the sports writing we demanded of you. 

Annie, Apple, and Jerome, thank you for all of the hard work you put into the Flyover. Apple, your bright smile and energy ripples, and a short three-minute conversation with you leave me with a smile on my face. Your reliability keeps the team steady, and I wish to meet a coworker like you in my future job :).  And Annie, thank you for taking almost all of our sports and news workload, and the Flyover wouldn’t have come this far without you. Jerome, multiple writers have flourished thanks to your guidance. I’m excited to see how much more the Flyover will grow with you.        

Kate– where do I even start with you? You truly are the best social media director we could ever have. From crafting posts to making funny reels, you bring your own energy and taste to everything you upload.  I loved running up to you whenever I’m tired or need a mental break, because your presence just lights up my mood. I will gladly drive a whopping four hours and thirty minutes to meet you in Boston because that’s how much I’ll miss you. 

To all of our writers– juniors and ASA students– you guys are the real MVPs. Whether you’re cranking out articles in the newsroom or hunting down teachers for interviews, your passion and dedication never go unnoticed. Keep your voices alive and keyboards typing – and I hope to see your name on Best of SNO. Illustrators, all of you have elevated the Flyover beyond its boundaries. I envy your endless creativity and artistic talents. Your work brought our stories to life in ways words never could, and the Flyover wouldn’t be the same without it. 

And to our dear adviser, thank you for coping through all of my ups and downs. I had my slumps and writer’s blocks, and those moments when I questioned my presence in the Flyover (haha), but you never stopped encouraging me. Even with our disagreements, fights, and moments of frustration, you never gave up on me. You challenged me to grow, pushed me to do better, and showed me what true passion and dedication are. You believed in me even when I couldn’t trust myself, and that is why I am here right now.  

(P.S. I never regretted taking three classes with you this year.)

At this point, as I’m writing my letter, I still can’t quite believe I’ll be stepping out of this newsroom for good. But I have to admit – when I read this out loud, I might be choking on my tears. I’m a person who saves a lot, and every piece I’ve published meant something to me. These little things remind me just how much this place, and the people in it, have shaped who I am today.

I want to take this last paragraph to thank you, dear reader, for following me through my writing journey. From my very first book review to my last, I have learned, grown, and built bonds with incredible people. Though I’m off to the next chapter of my life, these memories will always remind me of where I began, who I became, and the moments that made it all memorable. Thank you and thank you again.

p.p.s. from the 24-25 co-editor-in-chief, Leanne Yoon

I want to take this opportunity to thank you, Jessica, for being the best co-editor-in-chief anyone could have asked for. You’ve trained countless writers, including me, and this 1000-word article is nowhere near enough to capture what you’ve done for the Flyover these past 7 years. I’ll miss you a lot next year, and I wish you the best of luck in college 🙂