I, too, once stared blankly at my laptop screen as the numbers on the clock inched toward 4:20 p.m. As a newcomer to DIS busy navigating a fresh yet chaotic start, the newsroom buzz that I’ve come to love dearly threw me off. But I—we’ve—come a long way since then.
As I adjusted to the newsroom buzz, journalism became an outlet into which I could channel my raging teenage stress. The satisfaction of seeing sentences slowly fill up a page offered a much-needed break from the stifling boredom of chugging through SAT vocab. Even as the adviser constantly (and sometimes incessantly) nagged me to “sleep 8 hours a night,” these 2 a.m. writing grinds became routine.
Although I’d argue that my writing at the time lacked the spark that many of our current editors and training editors have (read my pilates article from eighth grade for reference), perhaps the adviser saw a seedling of potential in my hustle. By the end of my freshman year, 2 a.m. writing grinds had turned into editing sprees.
The hours I once spent willing the 4:20 bell to ring, suffering from a crippling case of writer’s block, inspired me to contemplate why I had those issues. I knew how to write for an English class essay, but back then, I could never pinpoint what the adviser meant by “pizazz” (OG writers may remember this term).
That sense of confusion became the basis of the Staff Manual. Part of me was terrified by how the adviser would react to the pitch deck I had painstakingly put together during an editorial leadership camp that summer. But to my surprise, he said “SICK!” and came to school in his classic tie-dye t-shirt. With the help of 2023-2024 editor-in-chief Cath, we created the first staff manual.
Soon after, while exploring the publishing portal, I found Best of SNO. At first, it meant little more to me than a funky way to spell “snow.” But as I learned the intricacies of the six badges and saw that no other school made it onto the Best of SNO Leaderboard, I thought, “Maybe we can become the first.” Throughout our heated rivalry with The Standard, we bonded, spamming the Flyover Editors chat with cheers every time we earned another badge.
During this process, many upperclassmen helped me grow as a writer, an editor, and a person. Although I only saw her in the articles she wrote, Alyssa’s writing and management skills inspired me to always strive for the best. Jade, Elizabeth and Cath helped me take my first steps as an editor, and Dylan, Selina, and Jessica bore with me through many stressful Thursday afternoons and badge grinds.
And now, at the bittersweet end of this grueling yet fulfilling journey, with three Best of SNO and three NSPA plaques and a handful more certificates, the only words I have left to say are, “I can’t believe this,” as I always say. I can’t believe how far we have come in the last five years. I can’t believe how many amazing individuals I’ve had the honor of working with. And I can’t believe that I was lucky enough to experience this journey first-hand.
As the adviser warned me countless times, burnout consumed me as I approached the end of my Flyover career. As Cath said, I had “junioritis in 10th grade, senioritis in 11th grade,” and I half-clocked out by the winter of senior year. But thankfully, I’ve been blessed with the support of a phenomenal team of writers, editors, and other leadership members.
All 27 students in the daytime class always gave their best. Although we had no articles on some weeks and too many on others, I’ll cherish everything, especially our Snack Fridays, long after I leave (shoutout to Jio for throwing the best one). As much as I enjoyed the class, the Flyover ASA will always hold a special place in my heart as I, like many other writers, started there as an anxious middle schooler. Whether sleep-deprived or hyperactive, I enjoyed every Thursday with you guys.
CJ always surprises me with his sarcastic Gen Alpha humor and immaculate writing. Even though he acts as if he’ll forget about deadlines, he always pulls through in the end. Will I miss your “67’s” and “fahhh”s in our group DM? In all honesty, I probably will.
Sally’s sweet hugs before the beginning of class and thoughtful words on pensive days nudge me to sometimes lean into my anxiety and wait for it to subside. Leaving the reader mulling over an article is one of the best gifts a journalist can have, and her deep thinking shines through in the features she writes and edits.
Oliver single-handedly performed a makeover of our webpage. He never hesitated to do the nitty-gritty work that I never worked up the will to do, like the Thursday-evening publishing sprees or recategorizing every single article published in the history of the Flyover.
Some of our staff will say farewell to Room 309 with me on June 6. Lily’s reviews always let me in on the hottest box theater hits even when I lacked the time and patience to sit through them. Andy cracked me up with his natural sense of humor in just about everything he says and does—hopefully you enjoyed journalism more than VP. Jasmine’s favorite phrase, “언니 권력 있어요” (roughly translates to “you’re such an alpha” in Gen-Z slang) kept me going when I wanted to walk away from deadlines.
Olya, alongside previous social media director Kate, transformed our social media page from the cookie-cutter template posts I started with two years ago. Her immaculate aesthetic and keen sense for finding humor in our daily class routines have made @jetsflyover far more entertaining and visually appealing than I could ever have made it.
I admire Sophia, our Best of SNO news writer-turned A&E editor, for their ability to stay chill and positive even in the most chaotic classes. Their calmness counteracts the chaotic energy of the rest of the newsroom and ensures we always meet the deadline on the A&E front.
Apple’s bubbly smile and expert Google spreadsheet skills kept me sane and prevented a great deal of my article-hopping habits. As a jack of all trades, she not only edits features, but also helps out with news and sports, writes her own articles, and sends every “Jets Flyover articles for Advisory” email.
Among all of the managing editors that I’ve seen, including myself, Annie, our managing editor and leader of the Triple J Fam, is the fastest, hardest-working editor for sure. You truly deserve a spot on the Flyover’s Mt. Rushmore—not because you rush, but because of how you single-handedly managed not one, but two of the Flyover’s most chaotic sections.
Although we seniors will bade Room 309 farewell, next year’s co-editors-in-chief will keep the legacy of the Flyover. Bonnie has both the bubbly energy of a Flyover EIC and some much-needed calmness in the newsroom. On top of that, her soothing voice and hugs work wonders on even the most high-strung people (like me).
Alex (a.k.a. Baby Editor)—although your knack for ragebaiting me and love of procrastination drive me nuts, thank you for being both my Pokémon and one of my closest friends, both inside and outside the newsroom. Your ambition and vision for the Flyover inspired me to reach higher as well. You’re definitely one of the craziest people I’ve met (in a good way), so I’m excited to see where you take the Flyover in the next two years. If you ever feel “in your nerves,” Bonnie and the other editors will always have your back.
And last but not least, Mr. Lipsky. I know you always say, “Don’t mention me in assemblies or articles,” but when have I ever followed directions? That was a rhetorical question. The answer is, I rarely do. Thank you, from the bottom of my 5’2 heart, for gifting me a space where I could dream big.
Whether it be with my pesky chat messages while you were doing your calisthenics in Malaysia or the countless times I asked to come at 6:30 in the morning or stay until 5:30 at night, you never said no. And in the end, it all started there—you and me in Room 309.
Last but not least, my final thanks extends to the reader. Your support enables us to grow each year. I’m excited to join all of you as I read the Flyover from Palo Alto, CA. These past two years as the editor-in-chief have been gratifying, fulfilling, and inspiring. Thank you for gifting me with the time of my life.
Signing out,
Leanne Yoon
2024-2025, 2025-2026 Editor-in-Chief
