I still remember my first day of 1B Journalism 1 class. I was so nervous, because I had no idea what I was getting into. For the first time in my life, I truly had no one to guide me. My parents had never taken a journalism class, and I had no older siblings that had done Wingspan either. I was truly alone, and to be honest, it was a little scary. And that feeling? It stuck with me for a while. For the first few weeks in the class, every time I interviewed someone, I just kept thinking, “Oh my god, I’m definitely not cut out for this. This is overwhelming and I have no idea what I’m doing.”

But then, there was a shift. I realized that the articles I was writing and the ideas I was coming up with were good, and with that came a newfound sense of confidence. My anxiety about interviewing people decreased significantly, and in fact, I started enjoying the interview experience. It became enjoyable to hear people’s unique stories, see new perspectives, and talk to people I otherwise probably never would’ve talked to. This was huge growth for me. Without Wingspan, I’m not sure if I ever would’ve come out of my shell and learned how to put myself out there—to go out of my comfort zone. 

As the years have gone by, Wingspan has become a steady, reliable constant. These past four years, I have gone through so many phases, but Wingspan has never changed. It’s always been my chill class where there’s tons of pictures on the walls, great friends to talk to, and entertaining class discussions. I have to thank Mr. Higgins for always having fostered a great class environment where we have the ability to relax in class and do assignments at our own pace. Walking into class and being in Wingspan has almost always reduced my stress. Sure, there have been days where I had tight deadlines and interview contacts that aren’t responding, but for the most part, Wingspan has been a class where I can let go, loosen up, and just be. 

I will miss this class and this program so much. I’ll miss sitting at my spot at the back of the room next to my long-time best friend in this class, Christina, as we talk about the book she’s reading for her weekly book review or come up with new quiz and poll ideas. I’ll miss roaming all around the school during third period with my friends from this class as we go on a quest to find interviews for whatever story we’re writing. I’ll forever be grateful for the memories I’ve made here and the growth Wingspan has allowed me to experience. I guess all I can really say now is thank you. Truly, thank you.