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As I am sitting down to write my final Titan Tattler, the fact that I will soon be leaving West Forsyth has not yet settled in. I still feel as though I will return in the fall to the same hallowed halls I have come to know and love. I still expect to begin volleyball workouts in July, to excitedly get my new class schedule and to pointlessly roam the 1000 building, stopping by my old teachers’ rooms to chat. But, unfortunately, that is not true. Once fall rolls around I will be at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, studying journalism and all things English, surrounded by unfamiliar faces and places. While this next step seems daunting, it is one I have been well prepared for by West and the community of Clemmons, so I’d like to say a few thanks before I begin the next chapter of my life.

First of all, thank you to every teacher that took the time to help me learn and grow over these last four years. I, quite literally, would not be where I am today if it weren’t for you. More specifically I’d like to thank my English teachers, Mrs. Ellington, Mrs. Peterson, Mr. Egan and Ms. Schneider, for cultivating a true love of reading and writing within me. You all helped me find my true passion, and for that I am grateful.

Thank you to my volleyball coach, Lauren Gillon, and the entire athletic department at West for giving me the opportunity to play the sport that I love. You taught me vital discipline and leadership skills that I know I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Thank you to the administration and staff at West for working so hard to ensure that every student received a high-quality education in a safe and welcoming environment. It is because of your dedication and often unrecognized commitment to West Forsyth that our school is able to run so smoothly.

Finally, thank you to the Clemmons Courier and all of its readers for giving me this opportunity to write for a real newspaper. Being the Titan Tattler strengthened my journalistic confidence as well as enabled me to connect with my community in ways I was never able to before, so thank you so much for reading my column and supporting me! I will not forget the ways in which both West and the entire community of Clemmons has helped me grow and become the person that I am today. Once a Titan, always a Titan!