I still remember emailing Mr. Malossi in the beginning of ninth grade, asking him which room the newspaper club met. Apparently I was the first freshman to join in quite some time, according to him. I knew I liked writing before coming into high school and I liked the idea of reporting what was happening. I got to go even further as a student journalist by joining the school’s Journalism class.

By the time senior year came, I had been promoted to Co-Editor in Chief, alongside Paridhi Miglani, another incredibly ambitious student. Joining the Eagle’s Cry has opened so many more opportunities for me than I could have ever imagined. One of the most memorable was my internship with the district’s media team, Syntax, where I had the opportunity to learn from Francesca Russell, a talented photographer who clearly had a passion for her career. I got to write articles and create reels that were posted online for the entire Bethpage community to see. Through this, my love for the media deepened, and my communication skills got infinitely better.

In Journalism, students are free to write about anything they want (although some rules still apply). Mr. Malossi, our designated mentor, never fails when it comes to connecting with his students and making their learning space feel like home. This class really made me feel like a professional journalist sometimes, whether it was running around the school for inspiration or interviewing my fellow classmates. 

So, before I sign off The Eagle’s Cry: thank you for the stories. The ones I got to write, the ones I got to read, and the ones I got to experience. Thank you for the interviews that turned into conversations and friendships. Thank you for giving me a voice to develop and a place to grow. What started as a simple email became one of the meaningful moments of my high school experience.

And for that, I’ll always be grateful.