When I joined X-ray my freshman year and watched the seniors create their annual senior spread, I thought about what advice I may have to impart by the time I was their age. I didn’t realize that by now, I wouldn’t know what to write; despite being a writer, it would be so hard to put four years of knowledge, experiences and love into under 500 words.
So here I am: 24 production weeks, countless late nights, 31 articles, two out-of-state trips, four rounds of sectionals and one trip to state later.
It feels like every piece of advice that I could give would be trivial or has been stated a million times. So what can Brynn Copp give that would be useful, that would be read for years to come as I’ve read through the old copies of the X-ray every time I’ve needed inspiration?
The most important pieces: take every opportunity you get offered. Go to sectionals, even if you don’t think you’ll qualify for state, and if you make it to state, go! It’ll be such a good experience.
Join that club, I’m serious. There’s no stress to make every single meeting and you never know what kinds of leadership opportunities you’ll find in them. Trust me, I was NERVOUS when I first walked through these halls, but through X-ray, I started coming out of my shell and I have spoken to so many cool people because of it!
My biggest piece of advice is to prioritize yourself and say no when you have to, but go to as many of the events that you can because you’ll make the best memories there.
Overall, I’m so glad that Ish Patel pushed me to join X-ray. I wouldn’t be the person I am now if I hadn’t worked up the nerve to come to the first meeting in 2021 and keep showing up year after year. Even when people say, “We have a school newspaper?” or “What’s X-ray?” I know that there are still people out there that are silently reading our words. Plus, there are teachers who read almost every copy (shout out to Mr. Biernacki!).
I’ve been so lucky to have met the best friends in the world in these halls, to have competed in countless competitions. I’ve been open to learning new things, I’ve accepted when I was wrong and have learned from my mistakes.
When I started high school, I didn’t think that by now, I would be ready to graduate, but I’m ready to take the support of my teachers and every life lesson they’ve taught me and go off. And if all I have from high school are the memories of all of the laughs, all of the classes, clubs, dances and events, it will have been worth it.
So, finally, after four years, this is Brynn signing off.
