by Dylan Sondike

Looking back, my aspirations in middle school were immature and unrealistic. The pressure of finding extracurricular activities that I might enjoy was a battle. At the time, I had no idea what clubs to try. The only lead I had was to join the school newspaper. It wasn’t because I enjoyed writing then or being part of a staff, but because the advisor was my older sister’s long-time travel soccer coach.

Originally, I planned to take Newspaper class just my freshman year, aiming to put it on college applications. Little did I know that I would continue taking it all my years in high school and become a vital staff member. Going on Zooms for the newspaper during the Covid-19 year was an experience. At first, it took a lot of work to fit in and have a strong influence on what articles I would be writing. As the year progressed, however, it felt more and more natural. It became so comfortable that I was offered a position for my sophomore year to oversee the print sports section.

Stepping foot in Sherwood for the first time as a sophomore was a major adjustment. It was originally hard to find my footing as in-person learning returned. However, walking into C266 for the first time made me more comfortable. Little did I know how connected and close the entire Newspaper staff was to each other. The feeling of being part of a group was very rewarding, especially entering a whole new environment after a year of virtual learning.

Current events and politics have always somewhat interested me. Joining The Warrior allowed me to significantly expand my knowledge of what is going on in the world. From current events quizzes to scrolling NPR for 10 minutes at the beginning of some class periods, I became so fascinated with the news. This has even made me want to pursue a major in government or history in college, potentially.

The past four years have allowed me to become a leader and a much more outspoken person. I entered high school shy and reserved. Now, I graduate with the ability to communicate effectively with a staff of nearly 30 people through my position as the Editor-In-Chief of The Warrior. While this was no easy task, I was able to foster an atmosphere of cooperation and collaboration to run an effective publication. These skills will continue to be valuable to me as I continue to college.

Four years ago I could have never seen any of this for me. Finding a club was scary enough. Being the leader of a club is a completely different story. The skills and lessons I have acquired and learned these past four years have changed me. Had my sister never joined that soccer team, I wouldn’t be at this moment today. Sometimes, a little luck or a weird coincidence pays off.