My Joyful Experience with Headlight by Matt Lieberson

Before I begin, I need to call out the Ukulele Club, whose home base is across the hall from us on Monday afternoons. You guys NEVER played the same song at the same time. All I heard was like 5 different ukuleles trying to overpower each other playing different songs in different keys. You also didn’t take the suggestion that Joel and I gave you to play “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” like that Hawaiian guy did on the ukulele. I understand that Mr. Ryan was gone for a large portion of the year, but you guys need to get your act together for next year. You guys are better than that. Strive for better ukuleleing.

Now, I digress.

There is so much that I want to pack into this final article. With under 2 weeks left in my Marblehead High School career, there is so much that I want to accomplish before I move on to the next phase in life. It is baffling to me that my four years have gone by so fast. Let me just say thank you to all of those who read this newspaper. My friends may joke otherwise, but I am convinced that there are people who read this paper and enjoy our work as much as we do.

There are only so many opportunities in life that somebody gets to honestly speak their mind to an interested audience. Headlight has provided me this chance countless times. I have been able to publish my take on various issues, from March Madness (4 years in a row!) to events at the school to the plights of teenagers at Marblehead High School. This isn’t something I take for granted. I savored each and every article I wrote, albeit some more than others. Looking through the scrapbook of my articles that my mom was smart enough to keep made me realize how much I have evolved as both a writer and a person. My interests have shifted, and my viewpoints and style have become more complex. Seeing my writing improve through four years of newspaper was extremely satisfying.

My experience as Headlight’s editor-in-chief has been nothing but positive. My predecessors before me, Ian Kingsbury and the tandem of Brian and Michael Drumm, set a tough example to follow. But as Mr. Higgins said, “every editor will bring their own flair to the paper; everyone has their own twist.” Mr. Higgins has been so helpful with the newspaper this year, and his work as advisor isn’t overlooked. Thank you very much for everything, Mr. Higgins. I am lucky enough to have had fellow writers who were just as excited to be on the Headlight staff as I was, and it was the staff that helped me evolve our flair and bring the twist to this paper.  Joel Katz brought wit and a keen sense of humor. Danny Plunkett brought heartfelt writing and an empty stomach. Alex Stein…well, I still don’t know what he brought, but he wrote a bunch so I’ll mention him. Paige Kelloway brought a passion for service, as well as many stories to brighten our Monday afternoons. I can’t thank you guys enough for your work with the newspaper. 

Our next issue will have new names at the bottom.  Grace Perry and Dan Rosenberg will take over as editors-in-chief for the rest of this year, as well as next year. I have complete confidence in the two of them, and I’m sure they will continue the strong tradition of this paper. But it will be different from this year. They won’t bring the same flair that I did. They’ll have a different twist on the newspaper. They’ll have a strong staff coming back, with Alex Kerai continuing the paper’s expansion onto digital platforms such as our own website and local news websites as well as some other characters returning to write. 

But my name won’t be listed next week. That thought saddens me, as I have had the best time as Headlight’s editor-in-chief. I have different challenges to face next year at college. I’ll make sure that my parents mail me the Marblehead Reporter every week so I can see what’s happening with Headlight. Maybe I’ll even write an article or two next year. I’m going to miss this newspaper deeply, but I’m sure that my college experiences will more than make up for the loss of Headlight in my life.

I just hope my roommate doesn’t play the ukulele.