Like every editor in chief before me, I must say goodbye.

I took over the editor in chief position at the end of last school year. While I had applied, I didn’t think I would get it after only spending one year in the class.

Since then we have fulfilled every goal I had for The Eclipse and its staff.

I wanted us to get along better as a team, to reach our goal of five SNO badges, and to finally get matching T-shirts.

The only way I ever thought this would happen was in my dreams.

I couldn’t have done my job this year if it weren’t for all of the special people in my life that have joined together to support The Eclipse with me. Now that it’s time for me to leave behind my high school world, it’s time for me to thank all of them.

I owe a huge thank you to Mr. Puffer for always making me a better writer and pushing me to challenge myself. I couldn’t have done journalism if you hadn’t recruited me and helped me to better my writing over the last three years I had you. You are the best teacher and adviser I could ever ask for.

Thank you to Jenna Robinson for being an amazing managing editor, for always supporting me when I was stressed out and helping me to improve The Eclipse. You’ve been a good friend to have in all of this, and I know you’ll do a fantastic job of running The Eclipse next year.

Thank you to all of my wonderful editors for going through stories when you may not have wanted to. You’ve all been so patient with me when I get frustrated and patient with writers when you explain their mistakes to them and help them to learn.

Thank you to Megan Millinkov for being my best friend. I’m glad that your first and last year at The Eclipse was a good one. After five long years of knowing you, I’m glad I got to spend my last year here with you.

Thank you to Autumn Prescott for being a great shoulder to cry on and an amazing friend. You always know how to cheer me up and support me not just in what I do in The Eclipse but in all that I do. I couldn’t have done it without you.

Thank you to Connor Earegood for always knowing how to make me laugh, for keeping the meme wall alive, and entertaining us with your amazing DJ skills at staff parties.

Thank you to Stephanie Lane for being a good friend and editor and for taking charge when no one else will.

Thank you to Hannah Hendley for being the best photo editor I could’ve asked for. Girl, you killed it. It was just you all year and you still managed to have photos for every event.

Thank you to Emilie Lewis for being our special projects editor. Even when we butted heads you were still supportive and extremely helpful. Thank you for putting up with me.

Thank you to Charity Nolff for always making me smile and laugh, for being the class clown, and for being my mother figure here at school. You always know just what to say and I can’t wait to go on those kayaking trips in the summers to come.

Thank you to Alexa Lippert for being a good friend and writer. I recruited you last year, and I’m beyond grateful to have had you in class.

Thank you to Ke’Lexis Love and Alanna Montgomery for being best friends, for being good writers, and for always making me smile. No matter what happened, you guys were always there for the staff and me.

Thank you to Kate Monreal for being a great writer and for always volunteering to take photos at sporting events. You’ve grown so much in your writing, and I can gladly say I am proud of you.

Thank you to Haley Peters for being the only freshman on the staff this year. At the beginning you said you couldn’t smile for a picture, but now I see you smile every day and it touches my heart.

Thank you to Jessica Rathburn and Morgan Brode for always sitting next to each other and supporting each other. Thank you, also, for being good friends to me and letting me pick on you when I wanted to have some fun in the classroom.

Thank you to Emily Rose for being our social director and making every birthday and staff party memorable for all of us.

Thank you to Grant Sterling for writing about bands and artists I’ve never heard of. Some of them are pretty good, and I wouldn’t know who they were if it weren’t for you.

Thank you Sarah Walker for being my friend. I’m glad I met you and got to know you. Without you I would have had a lot fewer laughs and many more cries. Thank you for the notes in class when I wasn’t feeling well.

Thank you to Sydney Wharram for being a total sweetheart and always pushing yourself to new limits. You are truly a beautiful person.

Thank you to Kelsea Wright for all of the beautiful featured images and get-well-soon emails. You are a wonderful person, and I’m glad I can call you a friend.

Thanks to everyone on this list and many more for making my two years at The Eclipse good ones.

As much as I hate to say goodbye, it’s time that I go.

I love this newspaper and everyone that is a part of it. You all have a special place in my heart.

I can’t wait to read all of your writing next year and from then on. I pray that I can keep in contact with most of you throughout the years to come, though I know I won’t be able to all of the time.

Please treat next year’s rookies with respect and kindness and help them to learn the way that I helped you.

Be patient and kind in all that you do and remember that we “work in style.”

I hope that I’ve left my mark on The Eclipse and all of you in some way, shape, or form.

Goodbye to all of you here at The Eclipse.

Love,

Brianna Horne