You’d think that a year of writing my column, the Busteed Speed, would prepare me for my final senior column. Yet, after years of deleting and deliberating over my words, I’m suddenly at a loss. Maybe it’s because of how much the Bull’s Eye means to me. Somewhere in my four years of grinding out articles like a madman, celebrating New York Times Connections wins with TJoe, and battling the dreaded Deadline Night delirium, the Bull’s Eye became my second family. And so, as I sit down to write the last few hundred words of my high school career, I can’t help but hope my words accurately convey how I feel.

Going into high school, I had one goal: to find out what interested me. I tried on variety of activities, from political campaigns to the medical field to even cross-country running. Unfortunately, I didn’t become an Olympic track star, but amidst all the activities I tried and didn’t fit with, it was journalism that remained a constant on my schedule.

Nothing about journalism, though, was constant. While I had finally found a genuine interest in storytelling, the medium itself seemed to be fading. Each year was a testament to how much the program could scrape by as funding dried up and readership dwindled. Despite these challenges, our small staff persevered, catering to online viewers through the spicy chicken video series Hot Seat—shoutout to the funniest guest, Justin Kung. As we wrap up our final episode with next year’s staff, I’m proud and humbled to have contributed to a new legacy, a fresh mode of storytelling for the newspaper that has given so much to me. 

The people I met and the experiences I had taught me so much about life—for them, I am forever grateful. I’ve learned what it truly feels like to be a part of a team as well as the impact of good storytelling. These lessons extended beyond the newsroom and into my personal life, shaping how I view the world and my peers at the desks next to me.

However, all good things must come to an end. As I move on to study in Taiwan and eventually college, I will inevitably struggle and wish for the familiarity of home. After all, Diamond Bar, my family, and my friends have made up most of my life. But if high school and journalism have taught me anything, it is that these divergences in life lead to the biggest growth. So although I’m nervous to enter this new chapter of my life, I remain excited, knowing the foundation built through my high school experiences will support me as I discover myself and the stories of those I meet along the way.