Wow. I can’t believe it has been more than half a decade since my sister forced me into writing my first Chariot article. I really cannot overstate how much of a joy and pleasure it has been to write and edit for this paper, and the immense gratitude I feel for every person who pitches in cannot easily be described in words. But as is the spirit of The Chariot, I am going ot try my best.
Charlene, Cadence, Zhara, Shania, Ethan and Surie: You all consistently brought our “pages” to life with your extraordinary talents. Your drawings added a depth to our storytelling that words alone never could, and I will forever be grateful for the passion (and talent, because I know I could never) you poured into our layout; please promise me you will never stop creating.
Lindsay: You have been the absolute gold standard of art managers. You always were the most reliable member of staff, and truly made it feel like the paper’s problems were your own. Whether it be doing art last minute late at night, or just giving us all the peace of mind of knowing that all the art would be there come layout, there’s not anyone else I would’ve wanted in this post. Selfishly, I am also glad it allowed us to speak more and get closer as friends.
Keith and Evelyn: Keith, I know your schedule is packed to the brim, which makes me even more appreciative of how consistently you prioritized shooting for the paper. Evelyn, your relentless dedication to getting the perfect shot, regardless of the time or location, never ceased to amaze me. Every time we needed a photographer, I defaulted to your name, now as for whether that’s a good or a bad thing…I will let you decide 😉
Hedia, Rishita and Ben: All of you took on the toughest mantle as our Staff Writers, tackling whatever random assignments we threw your way with speed and sophistication, and your ability to produce high-caliber drafts on tight deadlines was a lifesaver. As a former staff writer myself, I fully understand the pressures and occasional dullness of the job, so I can only hope I was able to help inspire a love for The Chariot that those before did for me and many others like myself.
Helai: I don’t think there’s a single member of staff who made me think as much during late nights as you. You always had an interesting topic to talk about, or a fun tidbit to share, so thank you for keeping those otherwise stressful moments light with just the right amount of humor.
Nayana: Thank you for keeping me accountable. There’s no one else who put up with my nonsense more than you, and you always had the uncanny ability to see right through me and give me the right motivation to complete the laundry list of tasks I had at any given time.
Fatima, Rebecca and Jisha: The reason I have grouped you all is not that you share a section, but rather because you all gave so much of the same positive energy to the paper that we really could not have done without. Whether it be spectacular ideas at brainstorms, chipper energy at morning distributions, or a smile on all of your faces as you guys were among the last ones to leave a layout or late night, you all consistently brought the vibes. The three of you are the soul of this year’s staff, and you all helped me in ways I am sure you haven’t even realized.
Sharon: I think you are the most clutch member of staff. For your first year on staff, you undertook a notoriously difficult section, and did so with such ease and efficiency that I remain in awe even now. You were always a pleasure to talk to, and if you bring the same level of dedication and willingness to learn to your future endeavors, I have no doubt you will be successful. See you in NYC!
Zahra Nuha: I honestly don’t know how I would have survived this year without you keeping your section completely on track and taking so much pressure off my shoulders. Even though I don’t think I ever even once covered your shift at Mathnasium, thank you for being so dependable for your work at the paper. Please reach out next year if there’s any way I can help!
Jacob: Oh, how I’ve dreaded this moment. I actually have to say nice things about you now. Oh well. Jacob, I don’t think there’s a single person whose growth over the course of these last two years I am prouder of. It takes a lot of mental fortitude to have served with me as a section editor and even more to deal with my constant torment this year. Even though I love making the occasional joke at your expense, please do not mistake that as anything less than reverence for all that you have achieved and for all that I know you will achieve. Keep making me proud and keep in touch!
Shohom: Okay, now this one I have been dreading. Over these last six years, in and out of The Chariot, you have been my go-to guy. You were always blunt and straight to the point with me, a quality that definitely took some time getting used to, but once I did, boy, was I glad whenever I came to you for advice. As we all know, you are off to the big ATL, and a part (the smallness of which I cannot emphasize enough) of me is sad that you’ll be so far away for the next four (three if your resume is to be believed) years.
Carmela: We did it. Though there was never a doubt in my mind about your abilities to do this job, I had plenty about myself. I think if not for you bringing out the best in me and complementing my skillset, there’s no way I could’ve been as good an EIC as I would have wanted to. I (as well as the entire staff) am forever in your debt and am ever grateful for all the work that you have done. I think we played good cop and bad cop perfectly, and it had truly been an honor to serve alongside you.
Ms. K (I still can’t spell/say your name so here we are): I hope you enjoyed your first year at The Chariot. I know it was not easy, and part of me is shocked that you chose to stay, but there is not a single part of me that isn’t grateful for all that you do, and I am elated you will continue to serve as adviser. As I love to say, you are tied for my favorite Chariot adviser, and I will be sure to keep in touch!
Ms. Mannle: Where to begin? It’s been quite the journey we have had. Though I have never had the joy of being your pupil in the traditional sense, I am hard-pressed to think of someone who has taught me more. Add to that the fact that I always gatecrash your classes, and I think at heart I am one of your students. Thank you for everything, for all that I can remember and especially for things that I don’t. It has truly been my pleasure.
That’s all from me! I know I have talked all of your guys’ ears off for the last six years, so thank you all for listening (and reading!). It has been a pleasure and an honor, so I thank you all, staff members, advisers and readers alike. Have a good summer!
