Half Hollow Hills High School East Issue 4 June 2015 Final Reflection From the Editor-In-Chief Collin Giuliani members and submitting written propos- solely my content. The release of the pa- These last four years working for the Editor-In-Chief als into student government meetings… per was always an exciting day for me, Thunderbird were incredible, and I am but to no avail. and knowing that the hard work paid off looking forward to what the school pa- Writing was always something that However, I knew that Hills East had in the end was always a great feeling. per is going to look like in the 2015-16 came naturally to me, especially with the the Thunderbird. There were many Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Dalton also gave academic year. This year, Hills East took newspaper. I was always the person who reasons why I was waiting for middle me confi dence from day one. As a fresh- home eight Long Island Press Awards, spent my free periods in the library typ- school graduation, including the fact that man, the expectation is that you under- and I had the honor of winning one of ing away my opinions on the latest news West Hollow felt way too small and the stand your place in the system; you’re those in the category of Opinion- Pop in the sports and entertainment worlds. fact that I would enter the ninth grade as not entitled to anything right away, Culture for my “Two Directions” article And there wasn’t too much thought that the president for the Class of 2015. That especially when you haven’t proven from the spring issue of the 2015 Thun- went into it; I just sat down, always had being said, knowing anything. So, it was derbird. Hopefully, next year, this num- something in the back of my mind, and that I would have the defi nitely a surprise ber continues to grow, and Hills East typed away. I would just sit down and opportunity to write when in the Fall 2011 takes home a total in the double digits. type, and whatever appeared on the for the school news- issue of the Thunder- Going online proved not to be a feasible screen was the fi nal product. It wasn’t paper was near the top bird (my fi rst issue on move this year, but hopefully, there is too diffi cult to write about something of the list, if not, at the the staff of the paper), some sort of online circulation of the from the outside world. top. I was there at the I had my own corner. paper come next year. There are a good But how do you start a refl ection on fi rst meeting for the A whole full 2-page number of underclassmen currently on four of the greatest years of your life? 2011-12 school year corner of my con- the staff of the Thunderbird, and while How can you thank every staff member as a freshman… and tent in my fi rst issue, that is good, there is no such thing in that got you to this point, and how can now, here I am, four something that nobody journalism as too many writers and too you acknowledge the past while look- short years later, writ- else on the staff had. many voices. I’d encourage everyone ing forward to the future? It’s tough, and ing a senior refl ection Sure enough, my role with an opinion on anything that you after writing what feels like at least 50 as the paper’s Editor- on the paper grew, go- deem to be important to join. The skills articles for the Thunderbird since 2011, in-Chief. ing from a staff writer learned from writing are invaluable, and it only feels weird that this one feels like To start off, even with tons of articles to when you fi nd your comfort zone and the toughest one to write. though it sounds cli- the sports editor to the your style of expressing a well-informed, It starts at the very beginning, at che and seems like layout editor & sports well-constructed opinion, there aren’t Sunquam Elementary School. After an overdone state- editor to the Editor in too many feelings better than that. Thanksgiving of 2005 in third grade, I, ment, the four years Collin Giuliani doing what he Chief this year. Mrs. And, as a fi nal message to the seniors- along with my fellow classmates, was of high school fl ies by loves to do...write. Davis and Mrs. Dal- enjoy the moment. I didn’t truly enjoy informed that Ms. Breglio, my cur- so fast. It might not ton always supported or appreciate senior year until the fi nal rent third grade teacher at the time, was seem like it now with me, encouraged me APs were taken and until after I made placed on maternity leave and would be the stress of taking tests and the college to write, always gave me the freedom to my decision with regards to which uni- replaced by Ms. Yaqubie. Obviously, application process, but once all of that write in a style that suited me, and were a versity I would be attending. After those it was a bit nerve-wracking to have a dies off and you’ve got the fi nal days of big reason as to why I’m going to study burdens were removed, I began to real- change in teachers in the middle of the high school to enjoy yourself in a rela- sports journalism at High Point Univer- ize how great senior year was. It’s tough school year, especially because Ms. tively stress-free environment academi- sity. Without them, I would not be writ- to look back in the heat of the moment, Breglio was an incredible teacher. How- cally speaking, you begin to realize how ing this senior refl ection today. but now that I’ve had the opportunity ever, when Ms. Yaqubie came in, it got fast everything fl ew by. It only felt like I also have to express my thanks to Dr. to refl ect on the year that was, it was even better. She taught for the fi nal seven a few days ago when I was driving into Woodberry, who has been an approach- truly something special. I’ve made new months of the school year, during which the senior parking lot for the fi rst time, able, supportive principal from day one. friendships, and I’ve done things (such we began to do more writing activities. or when I was helping with the construc- I have not had a perfect standing as Edi- as announcing Hills East baseball games It was there when I fi rst truly discovered tion of the Homecoming fl oat, or when I tor in Chief, and over my four years here, and going to Disney World on a school my passion for writing; when I was writ- was at Hills West for the football playoff whether it was through inexperience or fi eld trip with some of my best friends) ing, I felt like I was in my comfort zone. game between the Colts and our Thun- through a poor choice of words, I have that I never thought were possible; I’ve One year later, SUNews was created derbirds. Realizing that those moments made some inexcusable mistakes. I have build bonds that will last long past high under the direction of Ms. Yaqubie. It were months and months ago, realizing written my fair share of critical and con- school. These next two months are go- was her idea to create a Newspaper Club, that those moments were at a time when troversial articles in the past four years, ing to be a crazy time. It’s going to be a and considering the fact that I loved writ- I didn’t even consider High Point Uni- and I recognize that any article in a time to reunite with friends for one last ing and loved Ms. Yaqubie as a teacher, versity as a serious option for school... it school publication is, in many respects, time, it’s going to be a time of transition, I eagerly joined. Of course, the quality feels weird that in just a few short weeks, a representation of High School East and and it’s going to be a summer of oppor- of the paper wasn’t exactly great (you’re I, along with over 450 of my classmates, the surrounding community. However, tunities. Enjoy the moment responsibly not going to get hard-hitting reporting on will be receiving a diploma. even after times of “crisis” where cost- because it only comes once. When you the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina from Now that these four years are almost ly consequences could’ve been called remember high school fi ve or ten years nine year old kids who likely don’t know over, and now that a new yet very ex- upon, Dr. Woodberry did not limit this down the road, you’re likely not going to how many sides a hexagon has), but it citing chapter in our lives is about to freedom of speech. He was always open remember the petty drama from that one felt great to be a part of that club, meet- begin, it’s important to look back on to interviews, and I had the pleasure February during sophomore year, you’re ing once a week on Wednesdays in the the past four years that was.