Here it is. My last issue with The High. Soon, the current Year 13s will no longer roam the hallways of the South Campus, and the Year 12s will take over the student lounge and make it their own. A routine rite of passage, but it feels extra sentimental for me this year. 

If I were to pick a theme that aptly described this past year, it would be the theme of change. Amidst a pandemic and changes within our newsroom, as well as making the move to our new online platform (!), The High has navigated a lot of obstacles in the last 8 months. Despite it all, we have found a way to keep writing, filming, and podcasting- and most importantly, growing. 

That is not to say that it has not always been easy. Between IAs, EEs, and Personal Projects, our newsroom has not always operated at full capacity, but somehow, we manage to get an issue out on time every time. I always feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in the community that makes it happen – our village of writers, editors, illustrators, and our teacher advisers. They make The High what it is.

While our newsroom may look different, our spirit remains very much the same – we are a student-run newspaper that aims to shed light on important conversations within our community. Every single article that we publish, every interview we hold, and every question we ask is in service of this purpose. 

Sometimes, however, our role within this community can be conflicting. As a high school paper, we have the unique privilege, and challenge, of existing within the community that we write about – something not even the most reputed papers can boast. However, it is this same dynamic that can be complex because sometimes, the fear of what your peers might say outweighs the importance of the truth.

Trust is something that has to be earned, we have all heard that before. Well, here is something I have learned in my time at The High. The truth is also something that has to be earned. The High has been a space for me to evolve my thinking and become comfortable with expressing my opinions: vocally. This, however, was not always the case. When I first joined the paper, I used to hesitate to express what I really think. Knowing that I would feel the effects of any backlash my articles may receive, I was more concerned about offending someone rather than whether or not I was writing the truth.

That changed this past summer when I was confronted with situations in which I had a moral imperative to act and respond. I realized an important fact: I could live with the backlash that I may receive if I speak out, but it would haunt me if I remain silent.

The truth is uncomfortable, but it can also be empowering. It is within this space of empowerment that we can grow and it is also where we have done our best journalism as a paper. 

We tend to hold ourselves to an ideal standard, which can stand in stark contrast to our current reality. It is easy to become cynical and say that the ideal serves no purpose. I disagree. It is there to inspire us, to act as a north star. The thing is, though, that we cannot reach our destination without understanding where we currently are. That is what I hope The High serves as- a compass and a temperature check of reality.

It has been a distinct honor of mine to be a part of this paper. I have had many enlightening and entertaining conversations within our newsroom and our Thursday afternoon meetings have become something that I cherish. The High is one of those rare places where you can come as you are but you will most definitely leave as a transformed individual. 

With that in mind, I hope you enjoy our latest issue. It is jam-packed with interesting topics, including an update from a teacher in Myanmar, a look at diversity in ISL, and much more.

Be sure to check our website, YouTube and Spotify channels as well, both of which have new content for you to enjoy. 

As always, I hope you take away something from this issue and that you continue to read, engage with, and challenge us as a publication.

-Khwaish