I can vividly remember little freshman year me. Anxious all the time and honestly, pretty stupid. I remember having to find a random class to fill my sophomore year schedule, and it came down to two full year classes, yearbook and journalism. I think you can guess the one I chose. 

My first year of Journalism 1 was actual torture. I hated the class more than anything. This is not to say that Mr. Duncan did a bad job teaching, it was all entirely on me. I felt like I wasn’t good at any of the writing, that there was no way Mr. Duncan liked any of my stuff, and had absolutely no future in Journalism, nor did I feel like I wanted one. 

Near the end of the school year, it came time for us to pick our junior year classes. I can remember Mr. Duncan coming up to me, and asked whether I was taking Journalism 2 or not. I told him I wasn’t sure if I had any future with my work. Nevertheless, being the perfect teacher that he is, Mr. Duncan saw something in me. He knew there was something better waiting for me and convinced me to keep going. 

It wasn’t until midway through  junior year that I started having a new appreciation for Mr. Duncan. I saw him as more than just one of my teachers, but someone that I could really look up to (literally) and admire. He pushes his students to be the best version of themselves, to find their talents and run with them. It was from there that he found my talent for photography, and realized my potential as his future video editor. 

I started training under Tori Larner, midway through my junior year, and oh boy let me tell you, it was hard. I felt like video editing with all the fancy softwares was so complicated and I would never get the hang of it. However, as time went on, it got easier and easier, and I got closer and closer with the people in my classes, especially with such a supportive teacher like Mr. Duncan. 

Senior year came and went in the blink of an eye. I still laugh when I think of the times I felt like high school moved so slowly because in reality, it was on lightspeed mode. I made even closer friendships this year, and got even closer to Duncan as we worked hard on tedious starter videos, technical difficulties with the broadcasts, and long days editing the ACA video. 

To Mr. Duncan, my second dad, I can’t imagine getting through high school without your guidance, and support. Whether it was laughing with us while we procrastinated actual work, celebrating the big ACA win, or being there for me when it came time to open up during my Kairos talk, you were there. You have shaped me into the person I am today and the journalist I will become. 

Even though I wish I could go back in time, start high school all over again, and say anything but these next few words…

Peace out, Crusaders

• Em <3