It’s April, which means Spyglass’ second-to-last edition for the year and my last as Editor in Chief—a statement that would have baffled my very shy eighth-grade self who joined Spyglass simply to write. I was in absolutely no way interested in being a “watchdog” or digging up information. In fact, I believed that I could write for the newspaper while avoiding interviewing or causing any conflict. And yet five years later, I’ve interviewed and occasionally upset—but for the most part grown, whether from interviewing a pro-life feminist, asserting an opinion on the Don’t Say Gay Bill, or pouring my heart out in a personal narrative about perfectionism. 

Now, as I am writing a final Editor’s Note and reflecting before handing over the reins, I’ve come to the (perhaps cheesy) conclusion that Spyglass allowed me to mature through high school—and I couldn’t be more grateful. Both the environment of our classroom and the process of being a journalist broke me out of my shell and provided a space for me to express my opinion—publicly—in a moment where I struggled to share in front of a mere classroom of people. I couldn’t be more fortunate that I walked over to that Middle School club booth and signed up. 

I couldn’t be more proud of this final edition. These stories required a tremendous amount of interviews and research, whether it was surveying over 200 Westridge students regarding their sleep habits or taking a deep dive into the evolving testing policies of elite colleges. The staffers on Spyglass are thorough and inquisitive journalists, and our recent win of a Columbia Scholastic Press Association Silver Crown Award as well as four Quill and Scroll awards, three from Ella B. ’25 and one from Rebecca L. ’27, is only one indicator of their dedication and talent.

That said, I hope you enjoy this edition and appreciate how our staffers have poured their all into what they write. I cannot wait to see Spyglass’s further evolution in the coming years.