It’s tradition for the editor-in-chief to write a farewell article at the end of his four years at Jesuit. It’s always a bittersweet moment. An end to one of the most formative chapters in his life. And now it’s my turn. The time has come to say goodbye. But you don’t just grow as a person because you graduated high school. You grow because the people around you made you better. So what better way to bid farewell than by thanking the people who helped me along the way? If you aren’t on included here, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be. It means I had a deadline and word count to stick to. So without further ado, I present an Ingham Adieu.
Freshman Year
I remember several of my freshman classes at Jesuit like they were yesterday. I remember Mr. Berry patiently, yet futilely explaining to me what “showing writing” was. I remember the very first moment I met Grant in that class, when my ears perked up at his mention of Hearts of Iron 4. And I remember when I met Harber shortly thereafter. I remember seeing just how close to the metaphorical line I could get without crossing it in Mr. Erickson’s class. And I remember turning around in my seat to talk to Shervin for the first time in that same class.
To Grant, Shervin, Harber, Mr. Erickson, Mr. Billingham, and Mr. Berry, thank you.
Sophomore Year
Sophomore year saw me introduced to some of the most influential faculty members of my entire high school career. I remember refusing to thoroughly revise my essays in Dr. Degen’s Honors English 2 class. I remember egregiously mispronouncing words in Mr. Nielson’s Honors Spanish 2 class. I remember seeing how close to the line I could get in Mrs. Wainwright’s class, just like Mr. Erickson’s the year before. And I remember arguing for the sake of argument with Mr. Proffit in his AP World class.
To Dr. Degen, Mr. Nielson, Mrs. Wainwright, and Mr. Proffit, thank you.
Junior Year
Junior year was by far the toughest of my high school career, chock full of homework and a bafflingly constant barrage of tests. I don’t think there was a school night that year in which I went to bed before 2:00am. But I also formed some of my closest friendships and faculty relationships that year. I had known Evans since freshman year, but discovered just how identical our senses of humor were. I found in Luke Nettune that year one of the most morally upright human beings I’d ever met, and a close friend. The venerable line-testing continued in Mrs. Segal’s APUSH class, and Mr. Ellis showed me that philosophy wasn’t just for hippies or ivory-tower professors, while Leo Fernandez, my study buddy, made bizarre noises behind me. I also met Andrew, better known by his last name, Finger. He made sure my life sitting in the English Commons wasn’t too quiet, and he still does to this very day. And as I became more involved in The Roundup, I worked increasingly closely with Sebastian, someone who’s relentless energy somehow never did run out.
To Evans, Luke, Mr. Ellis, Mrs. Segal, Andrew, Leo, and Sebastian, thank you.
Senior Year
My senior year I would venture to call my best at Jesuit. I found my Jewish faith, and the friendships I already had became stronger. I had known Henry, Jack, Sam, James, and Noah since freshman year. But I became a lot closer with them over the last year in particular, and my only regret is not having done that earlier. I will always remember my thoroughly ridiculous conversations with Mrs. Grindinger in APES alongside my tablemates. I’ll remember my discussions of Russian history and self-fixing economics with Mrs. Ochs, and Fun Fridays in Mrs. Gerber’s class. And I believe I owe a special thank you to Mrs. Buehn, whose help and advice I largely credit with getting me into UT Austin.
To Henry, Jack, Sam, James, Noah, Mrs. Grindinger, Mrs. Ochs, Mrs. Gerber, and Mrs. Buehn, thank you.
One Last Message for The Roundup
As the editor-in-chief of The Roundup, I have a message for my successor, former sports editor Drew Shippey.
Congratulations on your appointment. I have faith that you will bring The Roundup to new heights. You wouldn’t have the job if I didn’t have that faith. Lead by example, and coordinate with Reese and Noah. If the three of you put your heads together, the paper won’t go anywhere but up. You are three of the most intelligent people I know, and that is why I’m optimistic for the future of this paper.
So that was it. My final article. Some of you may be weeping. Some may be celebrating. But if nothing else, I had fun at The Roundup, and learned a lot at Jesuit. I’m excited for the next chapter, but I’ll always remember this place, and the people I met in it.
Thank you Jesuit. For one last time, this is Zach signing off.
