For the journalists after me, 

When I first joined “The Prowler,” I thought journalism was just writing. I thought it was about finding the right words, meeting deadlines, telling basic stories, and seeing my name underneath the headline. And while all those things mattered and played a role in my time on “The Prowler,” they will not stick with me in my future.

What will stick are the conversations and lessons I experienced throughout my high school newspaper career.

The interviews where someone trusted me enough to tell not just the truth, but trusted me enough to tell their story. The moment before the finished piece where I worked on the ending of a review for the hundredth time. The late nights, stressful edits, hard deadlines, and foolish ideas soon turned into stories that people actually cared about.

Journalism taught me that every word carries weight and meaning. Once something is published, it belongs to every person who reads it. That responsibility can feel intimidating at first, especially when you are writing to your classmates and teachers at your school. But that is what makes student journalism meaningful.

People underestimate student newspapers; they underestimate “The Prowler.” And we are now sitting at the seventh straight year of SNO Distinguished Site with multiple state awards along the way. They assume we are just covering the surface level pep rallies and sports scores, but student journalism is one of the only places at Starr’s Mill where students are encouraged to ask the tough questions and push for hard conversations that would otherwise never happen. Long after graduation and reunions happen, our stories will still be out there. They become a record of who we were and where we came from.

To future staff writers and editors, do not waste your responsibility.

Write a story that feels difficult to write. Ask the hard follow-up question. Listen more carefully than you speak. Pull your weight on the staff. And, of course, remember the purpose of your story. I wish that was something I would have learned sooner.

At the same time, remember you will make many mistakes. I most definitely did, and I still do. There will be interviews where you forgot your question or times where you did not get the best sports shot. There will be moments where you question if anybody values your work or if your work even matters at all.

It does.

Not because every story will change the world, but because journalism teaches people to pay attention. In a world where it is routine to scroll past everything, paying attention is truly powerful.

You do not have to have the loudest story to write a meaningful one. Sometimes the most meaningful stories are the ones that spotlight the quiet kid or make one person feel a little bit more understood.

As editors, writers, and photographers, our job is not just to fill the page. Our job is to shape the way people view a situation. In order to do that as student journalists, we need to have integrity. And after my time on “The Prowler,” I know all of our staff possess that skill.

There will always be a pressure to chase recognition and the big social media trend story. Do not let those things become more important than newsroom honesty. A good journalist is someone people can trust.

While journalism is serious work, never forget to enjoy yourself. Bond with your staff, because they help you through thick and thin. My experience would not have been the same without my life-long friends that I have found throughout this program. My favorite memories on “The Prowler” were never the finished product of a story, but  the progress behind it. The frantic editing, the judged interviews, the brainstorming sessions, and the frustration and laughter shared in the back room will forever hold a special place in my heart. “The Prowler” is not just about creating a good story, it is about remembering the people who stand by you through it.

Eventually, all of us will leave “The Prowler” behind. New editors will implement new ideas. New staff writers will fill empty seats. And better stories will be told. That is exactly how it should be.

My hope for the future staff is that they continue to care deeply about the stories, the truth, and each other.

Tell the stories that matter, especially the ones others overlook. Before it is too late.

Journalism is not just about having a voice. It is about knowing how and when to use it.

The best of luck,

Ella Bissonnette

Editor-in-Chief, Class of 2026