Like editors of years past, I started my senior goodbye a few hours before the paper was submitted to be published and wrote it directly on spread. I learned from the best, and I hope that this pattern of procrastination continues.

Truthfully, procrastination was only part of the reason why I waited so long to write this piece. The main reason for the delay was that I had no idea what I wanted to say. I’m still not sure, but here it goes:

Newspaper has been a defining part of my experience at AHS. I switched into the class after taking Yearbook I freshman year and discovering that my personality was more in line with the Journalism staff than the Yearbook one.

My three years on staff have given the opportunity to do government homework, vent about school and life in general, and have a semi-real responsibility (the newspaper has to get out by its deadline, but no one reads it, so no harm no foul). I’ve learned a lot about the type of person I want to be and even more about the type of person I don’t want to be.

Over the last four years, I’ve met some incredible people who have changed my life and others who I would really rather have never met. I’ve seen some of the best of AHS and some of its worst. And even though I believe my overall experience in high school has been a good one, there is nothing in this world short of a direct order from God that could make me do it over again.

As much as I appreciate my experiences at Albemarle, I also believe that there are improvements that need to be made by both the administration and the students in order to help the school.

I do some advice I’d like to impart on the school. To steal Sarah Shifflett’s comment from last year: shut up. As intelligent and informed as some people are, you are still a teenager and there are people who are more experienced than you and know what they’re talking about. You have the right to your opinion, but not at the expense of other peoples’ feelings. Shoving your beliefs down other peoples’ throats only makes you seem crazy and makes people want to disagree with you just because you’re being a jerk.

And to my beloved sassy sophomores and beautiful junior, use what you learned this year for the rest of your time here. Remember that while schoolwork and friends are always priorities, sometimes there’s nothing more important than watching “A-Aron” one more time. Stand up for yourselves and trust your judgement. Andfor the love of God, save your articles to the server.