For an overly-sentimental person, writing my final piece for The Tower has been both eagerly awaited yet dreaded. Despite how I beg my parents to stay home from school at least once a week, I really am going to miss this place. But out of everything that happened throughout my time at John Adams, my favorite memories come from room 1831.

I originally joined The Tower my junior year to have a space for expressing my love of writing and media. The class was pitched as a fun and low-maintenance way to earn a credit, so I figured there was no harm in trying. But once I was in that classroom, I was in awe: I saw the kaleidoscope of creativity and skill that made up our school’s newspaper, and I just knew this was something I wanted to be a part of.

The Tower offered so many opportunities that I couldn’t be more grateful for. I could write about topics I valued and practice my graphic design skill set, which later turned into getting in contact with the amazing group of people that make up the Youth Environmental Press Team, who I’ve worked for as a social media manager for over a year now. And while I don’t think the former advisor felt anything more than a simple toleration for me, I’ll thank him for the greatest opportunity of being his final pick for Editor-in-Chief. 

Reflecting back as Editor, I am amazed at how much reform and the expansion our newspaper has accomplished. I have nothing but praise for the talented reporters that I had the privilege of overseeing. To Jacob, Cole, Nya, David, Eli, Abena, Zoie, and Kaelynn: Thank you. So much. No matter how long or short you were in the class, it has been an absolute pleasure to work alongside you. I loved seeing bits and pieces of your personality show through your writing and getting to know each of you a little better through your words. 

For those of you who stuck till the end, I appreciate you. I appreciate Jacob’s commitment to writing about worldly news and his passion for obscure, niche topics that I now feel super knowledgeable about after reading through his articles. I appreciate Cole’s diligence to improve his writing after each article and keeping the readers looped in on the latest Adams band news. I appreciate Nya’s incredible on-camera personality and her interest in the music industry. And lastly, I appreciate Eli for his continuous coverage of local events and always having patience with his 24/7 editor. You all should seriously be proud of yourselves. 

I thank you all for keeping up with my nagging edits about AP style, and I especially thank you for giving me the benefit of the doubt when I could only pretend I knew what I was doing. I truly hope I was able to leave the same impact that you all left on me because while I may have been the one “in charge,” you were the ones who helped me learn how to become a leader.

I believe that I’ve achieved a lot this year, both personally and academically. I took speech class in spite of my hatred for public speaking, designed an entire magazine, and managed to keep my pre-calc grade afloat amongst other small successes. But I must give credit to my pillar of support, Ms. Taylor, whom without I could not be the person I am today. 

Ms. Taylor is one of the most genuine and kind-hearted people I know. She and I were both left astray after the former advisor left, and we worked together this past year on how to navigate The Tower’s future and what we wanted to reform. Since then, Ms. Taylor has not only seamlessly shifted our newspaper’s focus, but also cultivated a loving, collaborative classroom environment. This was her first year as Adams’ student media advisor, and I’d like to recognize how tirelessly yet flawlessly she has worked for both our news publication and our 2023-24 yearbook edition. It is clear that Ms. Taylor only wants the best for each and every one of her students and she is always willing to be your emotional crutch when you need some encouragement. She holds a special place in my heart as I will forever cherish the kindness she has given me. Ms. Taylor is the coolest teacher someone could ask for. 

In the Fall, I will be attending Purdue University to major in User Experience (UX) Design. Though my major is not writing-focused, The Tower has given me the opportunity to improve my graphic design skills and my ability to empathize with the world around me: two core aspects of my future career. Even so, I plan on always writing in some form until my hands give out. And while leaving Adams feels bittersweet, I feel prepared to take on the college scene and attempt to figure out what on Earth a “Boilermaker” is supposed to mean. (Is it the train? Or is it the conductor? The conductor that made the train? The train that made the conductor??? Someone let me know, please.) 

If there’s one last way I can use my power as Editor-in-Chief for good, it’s telling you to become a part of The Tower. Our newspaper is a place flowing with imagination and self-expression that you deserve to have a role in. To me, The Tower is so much more than a high school newspaper: it’s my second home. I do wish I had joined The Tower sooner, but I strongly believe that you should never feel guilty for starting off later than others. It’s never too late to be passionate about something. Just looking back on the mere two years I’ve spent with The Tower, I have grown immensely as both a writer and a person. The Tower is where I felt like I had an individualized voice and a chance to leave a lasting impression on others, so for my fellow wallflowers, I’m certain that you will find your place here in room 1831. 

As I bid farewell to Adams, I know I will always hold onto the memories and experiences made at The Tower. Like the great philosopher Taylor Swift once said on her Reputation album, “hold onto the memories, they will hold onto you.” And regardless of the many tears that I shed when thinking about leaving high school, my heart is full of joy from everyone who made this journey so special for me. The Tower will always be a place where creativity and talent thrive, and I have no doubt that our publication will always continue to flourish with each incoming group of wonderful, successful writers. So once again, thank you for everything. 

Love always, 

Emily Clark (Former Editor-in-Chief)