I’ve probably written around 100 ledes during my time with East Side News, but this story, my senior goodbye, has finally stumped me. The first lesson you’re taught when you become a journalist is how to write a lede: answer the five Ws (and one H). I’ve already committed two of the worst crimes a journalist can commit in just the first 50 words, writing in first person, and arguably even worse, writing in second person. Since it has already been established that this is an abomination of a story, let’s make this even more interesting; I’ve decided I want my entire article to be the lede, one question at a time.
What?
Gosh, I may have to answer this question with another. What isn’t East Side News? In my recurring recruiting spiel I’ve relied on these past three years, I’ve always mentioned how there is something for everyone. I really do mean this. Everybody is passionate about something, passionate to the point you could write about it for four years without complaining, or maybe even your entire life. For me it was and is sports. My senior goodbye could be a 1000 word essay on why Justin Fields could’ve panned out on the Bears or how the Bulls and Sox will never win a championship until Jerry Reinsdorf sells the teams, but I’ll spare you from that for now. East Side News is a place for passionate people, who put passion into everything they do.
Where?
I’ve spent most of my time as a journalist at Plainfield East High School, specifically room 203, where life-long friendships are created, ideas come to life on the whiteboard and a box of Mott’s fruit snacks never seems to end. While this space is filled with journalistic magic I could soak up for hours, it’s definitely not the only place I would put under this “Where?” category we’ve created. When I think about where I’ve been a journalist, I think about the football field, where staff writer me built up his nonexistent courage to on-the-spot interview a PGA Tour champion. I think about the gymnasium, where editor me built up his slightly grown courage to wear a reporter outfit with a ridiculously long orange tie found at Goodwill for our newly named Bengal Broadcast, just because it felt more professional. I can’t pinpoint one exact spot on the map where I conduct my journalistic endeavors, I believe a journalist’s workspace truly has no bounds.
When?
Finally, something easy. I wrote for East Side News from 2023-2026.
Why?
It’d be simple to say I joined East Side News because I enjoy sports, but the more interesting answer lies in why I choose to remain. I love performing the art of journalism more than anything in the world (sorry Coach Gatz, running is a close second). I love learning a million new things with every story I write and meeting wonderful new people and being able to share their stories with the world. What started as making short sports team features turned into creating stories with true nuance and interesting perspectives. Journalism gave me a purpose.
How?
Journalism was how I made it through high school. Without it, I’d probably still be the shy freshman scared to make any friends to this day. Believe it or not, having the entire school know you as “The Bengal Beat Guy” gives you a bit of an ego, for better or for worse. East Side News made my experience at Plainfield East 100x better than it would have been by exposing me to some of my best friends and introducing me to my purpose.
Who?
I purposely saved this question for last, as I think it is the most loaded. A lot of people might ask “What is East Side News?” I think the proper way of asking the question is “Who is East Side News?” because it is the people that are at the heart of the paper.
To Emily and Daniella,
Thank you so much for being my biggest inspiration in writing. Seriously, when I look at the names of the journalists who push me to write my best, it goes Mully & Haugh from 670 The Score, Ida B. Wells, Emily Mendez and Daniella Torres, in no particular order. Emily I owe you forever for pushing me to apply for the Princeton Summer Journalism Program, which I actually believe changed the course of my life. You keep me just confident enough to hold uncomfortable interviews but just humble enough to fight against my picture going on the front page. Daniella you always treated me like I knew what I was doing, which a lot of the time I didn’t. Every time I write a story, I think it’s the worst writing ever produced, but you help me to see otherwise. I couldn’t have asked for a better editor-in-chief.
To Sadie, Jasmine and Luna
I will be forever grateful towards you three for accepting me into the ESN family even if I was a year late to the party. I wouldn’t have had the confidence to produce half of my work if it weren’t for you guys. Sadie, everything I read of yours is phenomenal and inspires me to work even harder on my own stories. Jasmine, your ability to put vivid images onto paper with nothing but a writing utensil will never cease to amaze me. Luna, thank you for putting up with my antics during football games and last-minute photo requests which you never failed to deliver on spectacularly.
To Leila, Amaya and Rhyler,
Man, am I excited to see what East Side News produces in your guys hands. This publication is my baby, but I have full trust in the three of you to take this further than I ever could. Please keep producing stories that push the boundaries of high school journalism, and keep making video packages that warrant a trip to Habanero’s afterward.
To Mrs. Munsie and Ms. Galvan,
Mrs. Munsie, thank you for teaching me my foundation for journalism, and doing everything in your power to include me in study hall conversations when I’d average about 2.3 words per period. Ms. Galvan, I probably owe you the biggest thank you. If there was one teacher who made the biggest impact on my life it would be you. You always took my thoughts seriously when it came to East Side News, and made me feel like an actual journalist. You trusted me with important tasks even when they may have been completed by 11:37 the night before. Whether it be mastering AP Style or absolutely rocking those competitions, you truly set me up for success in the rest of my career.
