Room 138 is what I like to call my sanity haven.
This sacred space — though unexpected — became my high school sweetheart. This room, which I initially viewed as just another class with white fluorescent lights and a black carpeted floor, became a second home where friendship flourished and ideas came into fruition.
Actually, the biggest lesson I’ve learned here, besides not using Oxford commas, is to expect the unexpected — cliché, I know. But throughout my time in The Accolade, this became my motto.
For example, I never expected to become the Opinion editor in my junior year — in fact, it was my last choice, far away from my top three options on that brutal application. But it turned out to be the best thing that happened to me. Through that position, my co-Opinion editor and I racked our creative brains and introduced Spitfire — arguably the most engaging segment on the website.
Then, during my time as the web editor-in-chief, everyone in Room 138 unexpectedly became part of a historic, unprecedented achievement — we became holders of The Accolade’s first-ever Online Packemaker Award on Saturday, April 18. With a fresh, new foundation this school year, I guess expecting the unexpected became the best thing that ever happened.
With a new adviser, a hard-working staff and gems of people in every corner of the newsroom, I learned the importance of harmony in a group setting. Everyone in that classroom plays an integral part in producing the most meaningful schoolwide publication — learning lessons about resilience and dedication, which will stay “written” within us for a lifetime.
So, more than a senior column, I want this to be read as a hybrid sorry-and-thank-you letter. To the reporters, sorry for all the harsh deadlines and immense pressure, but thank you for giving me the benefit of the doubt and the privilege of being your web editor-in-chief — it was truly an honor.
Sincerely,
Aashna Dialani
Web editor-in-chief
P.S. I promise I won’t be doing weekly story check-ins anymore — sorry about that … again.
