As this school year comes to an end, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the incredible opportunity to be part of the Nest Newspaper these past three years. This club has helped me grow as a writer and discover my passion for social work by providing a space where I can use my writing as a platform for advocacy and to raise awareness. Through my pieces, I challenged the status quo, shared diverse perspectives, and gave students at Albany High School a voice on different issues. My most notable and thrilling pieces were when I spoke out against Western Beauty standards, discussed social media’s oppressive algorithm, and expressed stances on differing school news topics that I found engaging.

I joined this club because I was inspired by my mother, who wrote monthly editorials for the Parent Pages, which was a local magazine in the Albany area. I was empowered by her ability to express experiences and vulnerability in her writing, allowing readers to see a perspective not widely shown. At first, I struggled to find my niche for what I wanted to write about. But in 11th grade, in my English class, I learned that writing is a powerful tool that can be used as a place for change. This understanding encouraged me to discover not only my writing niche but also my future career in social work. 

My time with the Nest Newspaper will always stay with me and will continue to empower me throughout my journey in college. I would like to thank my family, friends, teachers, our Editor-in-Chief Jillian Katz, and club leader Mr. Dring for their support and encouragement these past three years, and for their help in finding my voice. I would also like to thank the readers of the Nest Newspaper and the people who make this club possible. 

Thank you for everything!