Senior Closing Comments 2026

Yuna Lee, Copy

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away…writing departments actually edited their D2s! In the period of time since then, I’ve seen so (soooo) many articles about Clubs & Pubs; every iteration of “the polls were still wrong!” (shoutout Muhib!!); the Knicks; SING!; and the aftermath of SING!. So, a short checklist to help your incredible Copy Editors:

• Use the curved apostrophes and quotation marks!
• You have to include FULL teacher names.
• Em-dashes are your friends (and don’t have spaces around them)!
• Outquotes come from the article! Focus sentences don’t!

Seriously, though! Edit your D2s!…And, read the Stuyle Guide! However, I’d like to give a big, big thanks to Stella for always editing every Opinions article—it was super helpful and your articles are always a pleasure to read.

Thanks to Khush for having incredible music taste. Thanks to Lenny for being a sane person during the insanity that is college application season (and thank you for reading all my supplementals :D). Thanks to DRAKE, PaPa Leerner, MiNa, and YEN. Best of luck to EmACEing and the new Copy Editors: Emily, Carter, and Anika—the more, the merrier! Thanks to Duncan for changing the password and delaying member applications by two months. Thanks to Ryan for always editing all of A&E, and thanks to Niamh for always editing Humor. Thanks to Naomi and Emma for editing during those late (pun intended) nights. Thanks to Nada for introducing me to Spec in the first place! And, thanks to Mr. Garfinkel for his constant “okie-dokie.”

My three years on the Editorial Board and four years in the Copy Department have instilled in me both my own Grammarly and a sense of persistence. I’ve seen many Spec controversies: Black & White, the demographics survey, the timeline, etc. I’ve interviewed Alan Lichtman, seen the death of the magazine, and watched the popularity of print newspapers hit a new low. From my experiences, I’d like to remind future Editorial Boards to fact-check; while I wish the demographics survey happened, I’d also like to remind writers and editors that disagreement is good! As a Copy Editor, I’m proud to say that I’ve even written a bit! Thanks to Helen, Amaryllis, Myles, Hifza, and Joanne for either reading or writing articles with me! As both an editor and writer, I’d like to sign off with quite an illuminating (also pun intended) quote: “In a dark place we find ourselves, and a little more knowledge lights our way.” —Yoda

Stay Specsy!

Yuna

Sonya Cisse, Science

I’m glad that I met so many interesting people here! 

—Sonya

Somerset Seidenberg, Arts and Entertainment

It was freshman year when my name first appeared in The Spectator, atop a lengthy piece titled “Fake Drake and the AI Debate.” The piece, which I had co-written with the lovely then-junior Alexander Hinchliffe, explored AI-generated music and the blurry line between imitation and creation. In it, I affirmed that no algorithm could capture the irreplaceable grit of human expression—art lays bare our souls and binds us to one another. I did not realize, then, how much that belief would come to define my time here.

My co-editors may find this sappy, but before I knew them well—before I knew them at all—I knew them through their writing. While I did not overlap with Benson in a single class, I knew him by his authorial mystique, somehow having yet another page-turning read presenting itself with each new issue. When Emile—the embodiment of the word niche—was picked to be an editor a year before the rest of us, all I could do was shrug and think “of course.” And Galen knows well how I have gushed over his essays from the very beginning. 

So imagine how grateful I am now to have sat alongside them: working together, becoming close friends, picking up slack for one another, texting at 2 a.m. about a looming deadline and somehow getting an immediate response—then forwarding it all to the wonderful Hifza, who replies just after and somehow comes to our rescue every single time. 

Beyond my dear editors, this department has meant so much to me. I feel deeply indebted to the writers who came before, who sparked my love for this section, and equally grateful to the writers who came after, whom I have had the privilege of editing. It is a rare pleasure to be among people who care about art as fiercely as I do, albeit about entirely different things, from skateboarding subcultures to film scenes I never would have found on my own. Being able to listen, to learn, and to take that in has been a gift.

I know The Spectator is in good hands. What better place than one shaped by people who love art—people who love the world, and hope to show it forward. I remain convinced that it is essential we continue to write: to think carefully, to express ourselves honestly, and to resist the machine in favor of the beautiful, raw, and irreducible human voice.

Selina Lin, Humor

Hello funny people and non-funny people! It’s been a long four years, hasn’t it? When I joined The Spectator in freshman year, I was bright-eyed and ambitious. I still hadn’t faced the Stuyvesant experience that takes the light out of all unsuspecting freshmen’s eyes. Yet, now, as a dead-eyed senior, I’ve come to find that, as corny as it sounds, The Spectator gave me the light I lost to AP classes and end-of-year exams. I’ve wanted to be an editor as soon as I met the wonderful Humor Editor Erica Chen (‘24) in the Swim Gym locker room. and she told me to apply for Humor. Having the foresight to listen to her and later becoming an editor myself, I’ve experienced so much joy and gotten so much confidence from being a part of Spec. I’ve discovered so much about myself, including my willingness to edit in the dead of night and my love of journalism (that I will be taking to college), from The Spectator, and it is such a bittersweet moment to finally be leaving. I finally get my free time back, but I also have to leave my beloved department (woe is me) in the capable hands of my fellow editor Alexis Qian and our EITs Nicole Lui and Matthew Chen. I know you guys got this, but please, don’t forget me when I pass away! This would be the best time to admit, though, that I’ve actually been Ratatouille’d by my cat this entire time, and that he’s the true mastermind behind Humor. But I think I won’t ruin your image of my amazing, talented kitty with the tales of him pulling my hair until I edited. I kid. But even in death, I will be always sending important cat images to those who need them! Don’t forget me or my cat so quickly, please! 

Laughing maniacally as they lower me into my grave,

Selina Lin

Rhea Malhotra, Art

I knew I would be a sentimental senior. As naturally as I pick up a pencil and start etching lines into a piece of paper, I carry nostalgia.

At age eight, when I outgrew my beloved pair of neon polka-dot leggings (younger me had questionable style), I was heartbroken. At 13, the last walk out of the swim team locker room felt surreal, cold showers and wet tiles seared into my memory. And so, it was inevitable. As soon as September 4 hit, I knew that this year was going to be a roller-coaster of endings. But to understand the lasts, of course, I have to talk about the firsts. 

Entering Stuyvesant, I knew I wanted to join The Spectator. Honestly, I can’t even fully explain why. I just wanted to be part of something bigger than myself, and a newspaper seemed perfect. After some encouragement from my Big Sib (thank you Calista), I finally applied to the Features and Art Departments. I vividly remember the moment I was accepted into Spec Art. I was at a cross-country race, convinced I hadn’t made it after weeks of waiting. Yet, while cooling down, I checked my email and there it was: “Welcome to Spectator Art!”

Back then, I drew for almost every issue, and seeing my art beside an amazing article always gave me a rush of joy. When I applied for art editor, I was rejected. Twice. I felt disheartened because it was something I was so passionate about and poured a lot of effort into. But I worked even harder and on my third attempt, I was accepted. Along the way, I’ve admired jaw-dropping artwork, competed in ridiculous art games at meetings, and freaked out over forgetting deadlines with my amazing co-editors (thank you, Lixin, Karina, and Yuma!). As this chapter closes, I can’t help but feel bittersweet. 

This year, I keep coming back to a quote from The Perks of Being a Wallflower: “I know these will all be stories someday and our pictures will become old photographs and we’ll all become somebody’s mom or dad. But right now these moments are not stories. This is happening.”

So now, as I reflect on my time at Stuyvesant and The Spectator, I won’t dwell on the “lasts,” because this chapter is still unfolding, and I’m grateful for every moment. To anyone hesitant about joining a new club, trying an unfamiliar sport, or writing for the newspaper, give it a shot! You never know which first will lead to a memorable last. 

Rhea

Naomi Hsieh, Copy

When I joined the Copy department, I was a sophomore. I’d actually gotten rejected the first two times I applied, but I guess I just didn’t know when to quit—and I was right. Copy was so much more than just some low-commitment club; each article that I clicked on engaged me in a way that didn’t feel like an obligation or chore. The absurdity of Humor, the relatability of Features, and the range of A&E drew me in before I knew it.

When I became an editor, I’ll admit, I didn’t know what I was doing. I mulled over edits: should I accept or reject this one? What if I’m wrong? I refused to let myself make a mistake because it might prove that I didn’t deserve the position I have now. But, as I’ve learned, that confidence—that you deserve what you’ve worked for—will grow with you.

And despite the struggle for confidence and the countless late nights of editing articles, I still cherish each experience I’ve had (yes, even the one where I came back to my uncle's house at midnight in Taiwan during summer break and had to close articles). This “low-commitment” extracurricular has helped me grow in ways I’d never thought it would. I have no regrets.

Thank you to my co-editors Yuna and Emma for always sticking it through each deadline and “what do I do about this?” with me (MiNa & YEN 💴were/are so tuff). Thank you to the past, present, and future Spec Copy for always editing on such short notice, and I have all the faith in the world for the next generation of Copy editors, Anika, Carter, and Emily, whom I know will be just as dedicated to The Spectator.

To anyone reading this, I want to tell you what I wish I could tell my past self. Don’t think you have to get it the first time. One mistake, one failure, one rejection doesn’t define your worth. Don’t beat yourself up too much. You kept going. That’s what matters.

---Naomi 

Myles Vuong, Editor-in-Chief

My tenure with The Spectator has always been defined by people. I couldn’t have been more blessed to find the consistent, intimate Editorial Board I end each school day with.

Joining the Opinions Department in my sophomore year (with a nudge from two now-graduated seniors), I lost myself in articles. I had always been self-conscious about my writing, all up until my sophomore year English class and my first Opinions article. 

The most welcoming editors, Helen and Amaryllis, fostered a lively department that spoke with one another about school policies and international politics; the meeting snacks helped too. I felt comfortable joining the conversation. Each pasteup and D1 edit empowered me to write, while seeing my article and byline accompanied by surprise art kept me encouraged for my next article.

The entire Opinions Department has my love. The writers who always leave comments on the Slack pasteup channel and whose writing I’ve had the privilege of editing. The editors who inspire my journalism and put up with my late-night application and staff-ed calls. The readers—students, alumni, teachers, parents, and all—who contribute their time to hearing our thoughts. Joanne, Stella, Evelyn, and Dean know that I am deeply indebted (with special remembrance to MyJoMaMa).

And yet, I’m fortunate to be surrounded by the entire Editorial Board. There’s magic to 10th-period Advanced Journalism. From the daily cafeteria news briefs and biweekly issue critiques to the all-hands-on-deck layout parties and (somewhat) Fun Fridays, our Editorial Board’s quirks and traditions will live on. 

What’s always most striking to me about Spec Class is the laughter that fills 629. Maybe it’s from my poorly executed puns or a terribly hilarious, nothing-burger piece of news. All I know is that’s the moment when we’re all connected. And the spirit of Spec Class stays with us. Whether it’s Spec Dinner or the last-minute Sunday SING! Issue meeting, I’m always confident that our laughter (and hard work) will follow. 

At the same time, my tenure has provided me with the tallest responsibilities and the most abundant opportunities. I’m proud of the work the ‘25 Editorial Board has accomplished, from our standout staff-eds to our graceful coverage of sensitive school affairs. Thank you, Hifza and Mr. Garfinkel, for grounding my leadership. Equal gratitude to the editors and members for providing hilarious inside jokes and producing magnificent work. 

The Spectator has embodied what journalism ought to be, especially in uncertain times. Foremost, a community—one in which the marketplace of ideas is robust and the curiosity about our neighbors and storytelling is constant. And second, a forum unafraid to write, no matter how uncomfortable. 

Thank you for welcoming me into your 116-year-old conversation.

I’m forever thankful to have helped steward this institution. I’m sure the next generation of writers, members, and editors will be as well. 

Maximiliano Pettica, Web

A while back, I went to an event, and they had a spread of cookies and desserts. It was comparable to a buffet at those generic, large-company networking events: free, delicious food. I put my hand in the tray of Oreos when I heard a lady yelling at me.

“Take, take!”

I stared at her like a deer in headlights. What do you mean by “take”? I thought. Well, don’t mind if I do take five more. So I did.

She scurried over to me and lifted the tray up and into my hands.

“Take it all. We have too much.”

“Oh, thank you!”

I walked away, bewildered because I had cookies for a full day now, but also really happy. I felt like a fat raccoon running away with the entire garbage can.

After that day, without asking, I started taking containers of food from events, because surely I was meant to…

NO, I was not. I would receive the nastiest side-eyes from others when I carried containers from buffet tables, or balancing five plates when I went to an all-you-can-eat (I was unaware you had to pay for uneaten food, oops).

It got to the point that when I asked my friends for their snacks, they didn’t allow me to dig in, but rather plopped a piece in my hands. It was not until I was taking a box of cookies from a table that someone yanked them back hard.

“Only one.”

I was embarrassed before when I made my gluttonous mistake, but this was different. I never took more than five cookies from self-serve tables after that day.

Food is a major part of my life, and I love it (who doesn’t?). If you have decent, free food, you know I am coming over. The Spectator has been a community where I pretend to be productive (I am so scholarly, I am in The Spectator) and share my qualms about food. It is not every day that I can talk about the “seven fishes” of three beans served at the cafeteria. It’s fun!

Just like the seven fishes, I have three wishes for The Spectator:

1. More photos, please! I love playing Where’s Waldo with a photo of fifty students and trying to identify my friends with a magnifying glass.
2. Food column. Please write a food column talking about cafeteria food. Please create a food column (if you guys are still interested in it) :).
3. Keep building that strong community! I know it is easier said than done, but discussing interesting things that happened during the school day is super fun. 

Bye,

Max

Lixin Zhang, Art

My first ever work made for Spec was “a stressed student with AP textbooks piled next to them with a clock behind them counting down until the APs.” While I was drawing it, I remember chuckling to myself at the irony: I was that stressed student with time counting down until the APs. Then, it suddenly clicked. The Spectator highlights student perspectives, and I was that artist illustrating our stories. 

A year later, I was accepted as an art editor and was scheduled to take “Advanced Journalism,” AKA our Spec class. At first, I felt frustrated at losing my 10th free. And an art editor in a newspaper class full of writers? 

Looking back, being an art editor in a room full of writers was exactly what made Spec class so special to me. I got to peer into the ins and outs of writing deadlines, catch up with school news, and voice my own ideas—experiences I wouldn’t have found anywhere else. On top of everything, it showed me the importance of student journalism: The Spectator was more than just highlighting stressed students cramming for exams or school-wide events, it was our way of speaking up about issues within and beyond Stuy. 

It has been such a privilege to work as an art editor. I’ll never forget the long hours of gossip on calls with my amazing co-editors (Karina, Rhea, and Yuma), or the excitement of opening up a new piece of work. Thanks to Spec, I am no longer just an artist who simply illustrates student narratives, but also someone who actively seeks them out through discovering artistic talent during recruitments or exploring personal interests in art spreads.

Lastly, to all the artists on Spec: thank you for making the art department so special. Keep creating, and keep finding spaces to create. Sometimes, shapes and colors (or in this case, black and white shades) can speak louder than words.

– Lixin

Leonardo Guidi, Sports

I remember first being introduced to the concept of joining The Spectator through the soccer team and wondering why it was talked about with such enthusiasm. After three years with The Spectator, I now truly understand why.

I started out as a Sports writer, and initially I saw it as a way to speak my opinions on topics I’m passionate about, as well as bond with others over our shared love of sports. As time went on and I learned more about The Spectator, becoming an editor became an extremely interesting thing to pursue.

That decision to pursue becoming an editor is one that I have no regrets about. I've loved all the time I’ve put in as editor—editing an article with a diabolical sports take that I completely, wholeheartedly disagree with yet am still forced to proofread, edit, and provide feedback on, crafting the most niche Jeopardy questions where I can flex my extremely random knowledge of soccer, or even those long, late-night FaceTime calls with my co-editors stressing on meeting deadlines and complaining about how much work we had to deal with. Being part of this community has given me a community I feel at home in at Stuy, and I want to thank all the writers, my co-editors Boone and Eli (as well as the ‘25s: Duncan, Evan, and Kaileen) and everybody else involved in Spec for making my time with the newspaper so enjoyable and memorable. 

Leah Riegel, Features

I love to ask questions. From a casual “What did you do over the weekend?” to a larger “What is the best book you have ever read?” to perhaps the largest: “Why?”, I let my curiosity guide my conversations, and it has almost always brought me to somewhere new and exciting. This propensity for asking questions is probably the reason why I joined Features all the way back in freshman year—I wanted to know more, I wanted to ask questions, and I wanted to share my findings with the world.

Through my time in Features, I have written articles from a profile on Ms. Maggio’s ride through Antarctica to a look into which college-related questions are appropriate to ask seniors (as a current senior, some people could afford to take a second look at that one). Later, as editor, I got a chance to be inspired by the way writers and co-editors viewed the world, how they persistently challenged and analyzed Stuyvesant and beyond. I learned so much from both my writers and my wonderful co-editors (yay Ada & Grace!), without whom I would have been totally lost. I am so grateful to The Spectator for giving me the opportunity to learn a little, write a lot, and get to know you all. 

—Leah

Lauren Yang, News

Four years ago, I entered the cafeteria where the Fall 2022 Spectator recruitments were being held. I distinctly remember the closing line of News’ speech: “We put the news in the newspaper!” So corny, I thought. But perhaps that’s why I joined. Four years later, with complete awareness, I’m shouting the same corny sentence into the microphone, carrying the same passion my predecessors had. I’ve come to realize that it isn’t just the punch line in an old spiel; our department captures history in the everyday happenings of the Stuy community. 

As I grew closer to the student body through many, many interviews, I also became attached to my Editorial Board family. I can still hear Eli, Benson, and Lixin’s laughs lingering in the back of room 636. Staff-editorial calls will be missed, and so will late-night editing. Hide-and-seek in Albany will be a forever memory.

Thank you to my former mentors, Zoey, Talia, and Seth, for teaching me everything there is to know about News. Thank you to my current co-editors, Brendan and Dinara, for helping manage our department through it all. And thank you, Mr. Garfinkel for our lighthearted exchanges about Ferry’s sandwiches and pickles, but also for being the brightest influence throughout my four semesters in Spec Class. Lastly, I thank my freshman self for walking into Spectator recruitments that fateful day, because these have been the most rewarding years of my life.

Karina Huang, Art

I still remember when I was a freshman, attending Spec recruitments—not knowing anything about The Spectator or how involved I would become. From drawing every other issue to editing almost every issue, I’ve found an incredible community of artists. Looking back at the last four years, I’m forever grateful that I joined Spec.

Thank you to The Spectator for all the amazing people I’ve met. Thank you to my co-editors Rhea, Lixin, and Yuma; I’ll never forget our late-night debriefs and lock-in calls. 

And, to the Art Department: thank you for the work you’ve all put in and thank you for putting up with our last-minute art requests.

Karen Xu, Layout

Four years ago, the newspaper I saw for the first time wasn’t in its freshly printed, half-folded paper form. Instead, it appeared on a screen, where the front page was reduced to a tiny portion, nearly overwhelmed by an assortment of toolbars, buttons, and formatting options. My first feeling was confusion, followed by amazement and respect, and finally, wonder. How did the contents of this small screen turn into stacks of tangible, visually appealing newspapers on the stands?

Driven by this curiosity, I started immersing myself in what I learned to be the world of Adobe InDesign—the world of Layout. I learned how to download all sorts of fonts, how to use the pen tool to trace images, and discovered a button that capitalized entire words. I fell in love with the perfectly even spacing between outquotes, the text that wrapped aesthetically around artworks, and the carefully-curated crosswords and spreads. The tedious manual italicization of album titles (sorry A&E), the last-minute article cuts, and late-night constant editing? Not so much. Yet it is these parts that make Layout the resilient, indispensable department it is, and I’m happy to have been part of it.

Thank you to Andre, Jasper, and Elaine for patiently guiding and teaching me through all my mistakes. Thank you to Anjali and Isabel for being the most hardworking, supportive editors I could ever ask for, and thank you to Hifza and Myles for accompanying us through all those late-night sending sessions. To Elysia, Claire, and Iqra, I wish you all the best! It’s been beyond fulfilling layouting these past 35 issues, and I can’t wait to keep designing.

Joanne Hwang, Opinions

In the Opinions Department, I often found myself asking: “Are we even doing anything?” It was easy to feel helpless as my peers and I wrote article after article with the same lengthy block comments and the same outdated school policies. But there was a change. I’d hear whispers of my writer’s mayoral article in the halls, or I’d be emailed by a parent who appreciated my perspective on creative writing. And that very power of writing—to stir conversations and thought—kept me writing word after word after word (a nod to Margaret Atwood). 

As writers, artists, changemakers, and proactive thinkers, we are on an endless journey to find our voice and our beliefs—to discover them and rediscover them. The Spectator is one of the best places to do so. With each issue, this dedicated community of journalists grows through diverse stories and intense staff-ed discussions.

From learning from mentors and mentees alike to the many pasteups turned masterful articles, I loved being a writer and an editor. I loved the late-night zoom crashouts over 55 writer applications, fixing all of the nothing burger sentences, and the countless times I felt an overwhelming sense of pride from holding a copy of The Spectator in my hands. Thank you to Myles, Dean, Stella, Evelyn, Hifza, Amaryllis, Helen, Mr. Garfinkel, and all my lovely writers who will continue to elevate the Opinions Department. 

To current and future writers, I hope you will take the time to find the cadence with which you will recite poems, the people with whom your voice is most amplified, and the words that will best reflect who you are. That, I learned, is invaluable, prideful, and irreplaceable by any ultra-advanced form of AI. 

With gratitude, always, 

Joanne 

Isabel Noh, Layout

I can’t believe this is the final issue. The past 14 months have been a fun run, stacking and formatting dozens of articles, photos, ads, and illustrations in a game of Adobe Tetris. I’ve learned what goes into this publication, and I’m so grateful to have been a part of it. 

I stumbled across Layout at recruitments as a sophomore. Ironically, the only Spectator articles I’d read before applying had been online. Today, I have a plethora of paper issues; there’s something special about tangible media.

I learned and improved from my first layout assignment, a shaky attempt. A couple of months after I joined, I flipped through the SING! issue to see three pages I had designed printed for the first time. It was exciting. Seeing my name as an Editor-in-Training on the masthead was exciting. If there’s anything I would tell my sophomore-year self, it would be that it’s never too late to join something; also, starting at anything sophomore year is not “late” in the slightest.

Thank you to Andre, Elaine, and Jasper for teaching me and answering my excessive emails and messages; Anjali, Karen, and Elysia for being there through and through and for everything; and now Iqra, and Claire—I hope that you three, Stella, and Noa won’t be sending past 9:00 p.m. (maybe that’s reaching) this year—and our members, it’s been a pleasure to see all of you grow. Farewell, Spec!

Hifza Kaleem, Editor-in-Chief

The Spectator became a part of my Stuy experience before my high school career even began. I’ve always been enamored by writing—its breadth and life—so I was immediately drawn to such a vast, colorful (figuratively), and cornerstone newspaper. I still have the (slightly torn) copy I picked up in May of 2022 at the accepted students Open House, where both of my tour guides were—perhaps by fate—Spec editors. I’ve held onto every copy since, from Volume 113 to 116, tucked away in archive boxes in my closet.

I joined Features in the fall of my freshman year for two reasons: I wanted to write, and I wanted to meet people. Features provided ample opportunities for both, imparting me with confidence as a writer and person. Each interview I’ve conducted—with peers, teachers, alumni, and more—and each Voices piece I’ve written will forever remain pieces of me, alongside every edit (thank you, Phoebe and ODE to Features) that shaped my writing for the better… no matter how difficult they were to stomach at first. 

As I entered sophomore year, I wanted to further immerse myself in all aspects of student journalism, from the people to editing to behind-the-scenes. Becoming an editor (much love to CHA-CHA!) and later Editor-in-Chief came naturally, thank goodness! Every editorial board discussion (need we forget February to March of 2024?) and project (hello, ELECT!) opened my eyes to so many facets of our Stuy community. Editorship also deepened my appreciation for Spec itself; to see each issue’s (not always smooth) cycle, alongside the various voices and people that shape them, drew me further into the wonderful realm of journalism.

The community I found in Spec Class grounded my love for journalism, writing, and even Stuy. Truly. Thank you to my Shadow Editorial Board and, though short-lived, Cabal Editorial Board. Thank you to every editor who has laughed at one of my horrendously pitiful jokes (of which there has been no shortage)! I’ll cherish every Fun(?) Friday, Staff-Ed discussion, Critique, and Layout Party; each SING! issue and Caucus debate; and the chaos (and joy!) of last-minute Recruitments. Thank you to Khush, Emily, and Mr. Garfinkel for the guidance, mentorship, and unwavering support that made my EIC tenure possible, and thank you, Myles, for your co-editorship!

Being Editor-in-Chief was far from easy—I’m sure there’s an endless list of things I could have accomplished or ways I could have improved—but I wouldn’t change my tenure; it was imperfect but invaluable, messy yet priceless, full of lessons and laughter. And while I won’t miss late-night editing sessions, scrambling to plan Spec Class, the back-and-forth of sending nights, or New York Post appearances (!), I will miss the warmth of 629; searching for a quote for the issue email; tangents birthed from news briefs; the fun of reading an article that is entirely new and incredibly passionate; and the pure magic of picking up a freshly inked, still-hot paper from the stands, watching others across all grades do the same.

Thank you, Spec people (readers! writers! editors!), for everything. I don’t know who I’d be without my involvement in Spec, and I’m glad I won’t ever have to. I’m so excited to see where Noa and Stella take this paper—you’re in good hands. 

As I depart this beloved newspaper and approach the real world (there is so much more to life than this school), I acknowledge that we live in a fraught time—in a whirlwind of fear, uncertainty, and injustice, where the easy route is to sit in silence. I urge you to change this. Take initiative! Spark conversations, even if they’re difficult! Listen as much as you talk, and learn! Develop your own voice and opinions—educated ones, authentic to you. Keep asking questions. Keep growing. Keep writing, even when no one else is. And, most importantly, stay Specsy! 

Grace Jung, Features

I remember joining The Spectator spring semester freshman year without much thought. Coming in, all I knew was that I enjoyed Freshman Composition, I didn’t have too much to do after school, and I liked hearing other students’ stories. After a family friend—a past layout editor—recommended joining, I decided to apply to four departments: News, Layout, Business, and Features.

As I continued producing articles and interviewing, I quickly realized that Features was the right place to be. Whether it’s Voices pieces, teacher profiles, or reports on student culture, Features helped me realize how I can combine my writing with a series of interviews to curate a meaningful story.

From a writer’s perspective, I want to thank The Spectator for providing me with an outlet to share my voice by uplifting those of others. As an editor, I’m eternally grateful to my writers for allowing me to play a part in expressing theirs. 

Bye!

Grace

Galen Jack, Arts and Entertainment

When I saw the comments on my first article, I told my mom I wanted to quit.

I had spent days trying to turn my elaborate, passionate criticisms of the latest Supreme skate video into something legible, and I was proud of what I’d put together. My editors weren’t so impressed, and they made sure I could tell. For some reason, though, maybe my pride, maybe a budding love for writing, I decided I’d give it one last go. My next article was a little better, and the next one better than that, and before long, I wasn’t seeing triple-digit numbers of comments, and there was even a stray fire emoji here and there.

I’m proud that I kept at it, and kept at it hard enough to be writing this now. But most of all, I’m proud of the many journeys like this I’ve seen as an editor, and that I’ve been a small part of each one, through those very same comments that almost kept this all from happening. Love you guys.

– Galen

Emile Lee-Suk, Arts and Entertainment

Maybe you’ll have heard my advice before, either from Mr. Hanna or another A&E editor: enjoy good art. And create it. Listen to Quavo, then Daft Punk, then Miles Davis, then Bladee. Compose on sheet music or FL Studio. Stroll down Canal Street and walk into any gallery that looks interesting (The Jeffrey Deitch is consistently great). Take the train to Brooklyn Tech and get a chicken in a box from the deli there, with chipotle mayo. Read criticism; there’s good stuff on Pitchfork, NoBells, and The Face. Write criticism, like a review of a JPEGMAFIA album or a Whitney exhibit, and then submit it to a publication or upload it to a Substack. Pick up a new instrument, or two. Check out museums and galleries in cities other than New York. Hear live music and mosh to it. Find meaning through good art.

Thanks to Yung Lean, xaviersobased, and Bassvictim. Thanks to Ms. Yang, Mr. Sandler, Mr. Hanna, and Ms. Siegel. Thanks especially to Benson, Somerset, Galen, Madeline, Zoë, and Santino. Couldn’t have done it without you guys.

Best, Emile

 Elijah Choi, Sports

“Stay Sporty, Your Sports Editors” - The never-failing farewell of every Spec Sports email. 

It was this closing that welcomed me into the Sports Department for the first time as an eager freshman who could hardly wait to share my ball knowledge and sports fandom (Go Hawks!). It was also this closing that marked my entry into my role as an editor, a role that would constantly mean leading excitingly chaotic Jeopardy games during meetings and re-reading D2s from our writers with pride. 

In my time in Sports, I have learned what staying sporty truly means. As much as it means reminding our writers not to start D2 until all edits have been made, it also means celebrating the hard work and passion we put in as both writers and sports fans, cultivating the shred of sports culture Stuy still has, and, of course, laughing at the most absurd Super Bowl predictions during our meetings.

Thank you to all of those who have been a part of my journey at The Spectator and have taught me the value of staying sporty.

Thank you to all of my co-editors, especially Leo and Boone. Working with you has been such a blessing and pleasure—I truly could not have asked for a better trio to share our late-night calls that always seem to get off topic, our hastily-made recruitment speeches, and the mountain of articles we’ve edited over the last year.

And thank you to all the writers of the Sports Department for showing me what it means to be an impassioned sports fan and for being the coolest and sportiest family at Stuy. 

Stay Sporty,

Eli

Dean Hevenstone, Opinions

Since I was little, I’ve always been full of opinions, much like everyone else in the department. However, having a structured platform to express myself for the first time, as well as editors who challenged me to think deeper and back up every thought, changed the way I perceived the world around me. It left me more open to conversation and critique, and inspired me to put my thoughts into writing without fear of opposition.

My favorite part of being a writer, though, was seeing discourse within the school around my articles and The Spectator as a whole. It was so rewarding to have students and teachers come up to me and ask questions and give feedback about something I wrote, or share their own thoughts and experiences, because that’s exactly the type of community a school newspaper strives to create.

Being an editor and helping the next generation of Opinions writers go through the same process I did has been incredible to watch, and I know that our department is in great hands with Evelyn, Eli, Calista, and Paloma. Thanks so much to my amazing co-editors, Joanne, Stella, and Evelyn.

Boone Ireland, Sports

I was first coaxed into the Sports Department by the iconic Duncan Park. I had never learned how to write articles, and more importantly, I was at a loss for what to write. Another iconic Sports member, Ava Quarles, told me she knew I had controversial opinions and told me to pick one! I wrote about transgenderism and sports… I was a little scared; I’ll admit. I even debated signing my name. Once published, no one said anything to me about it. Except for teachers. I can name four different teachers who approached me and expressed their admiration for my boldness. This was when I first realized that The Spectator extends beyond the student body. 

There weren’t many girls when I joined the department. By the time ‘24 and ‘25 graduated, room 615E was running low on estrogen. The more I found my confidence as a contributing member in Sports, unfailingly highlighting a different gender disparity each issue as a writer, and the more I recruited any female athlete who would listen to me, the more Leo and Eli (and the rest of the department, with its shenanigans) became my boys :). I’ve had a lot of fun.

Editing was something I always did propped up against the lockers in the junior atrium. With the new technology policy, my editing window steeply declined, and my wonderful co-editors were always there to help out (sorry and thank you!). As an athlete at a school where academics are foregrounded and sports are backgrounded—and since I’m not on the boys' basketball or football teams (ur kidding, right?)—I was overjoyed to find a department filled with people like me. The most important thing I’ve learned is that when you’re the only female editor in a room full of boys, you can never be wrong. 

Benson Chen, Arts and Entertainment

This changed my life. Thank y’all so much. Especially Madeline, Emile, Santino, Zoë, Somerset, and Galen. And Hifza. Goodbye. 

Anjali Bechu, Layout

I don’t think I picked up a copy of The Spectator until I joined the layout department in my sophomore year. Most days, I would walk out of school without sparing a second glance at the stands. I always saw the paper as just another Stuy quirk, something like “Oh, it’s cool that we have that,” but I never truly cared about it or the stories inside. It wasn’t until I became a layout EiT that I realized how much work goes into every issue.

If I’m completely honest, I don’t even think I knew how to properly use InDesign as a member. It was only when I became an EiT that I was forced to learn how to change page numbers, cut out art, and fix horrendous layouts. It took hours of my time to learn and was a complete nuisance, but I now realize that was the best part of the Layout department: learning. Throughout my past year as editor, I’ve used countless new tools and techniques in InDesign, and I know there’s still so much more for me to learn. It’s crazy how I went from knowing absolutely nothing to being able to glance over a page and, in a couple of seconds, notice misalignment or extra indentation. I mean, c’mon, now I have sick graphic design skills that I can apply whenever I need them.

Beyond the software, I’ve learned to appreciate The Spectator community. There are so many wonderful, interesting people putting in countless hours of editing articles, drawing artwork, taking photos, or doing web design. I got to talk to people I probably never would have spoken to otherwise. The whirlwind of emotions that I have felt because of The Spectator is unreal. I’ll be the first to admit I have a short temper, but somehow I made it through all those late nights without completely losing it  (though I was definitely on the brink). The nights I spent hours fixing PDFs, only to be told that sending would be pushed to the next day, messed with my head. And sending PDFs at 1 a.m.? I’m still shocked I survived that. Then, after it all, I felt a sense of accomplishment, like I did that. Now I pick up a copy of every issue and make sure to read it because I truly believe this department has given me something special that will never be replaced (and I’ll be damned if I don’t see all that hard work translate into something physical I can hold).

To Karen and Isabel: thank you for keeping me sane during those late-night sendings and for keeping calm when I was crashing out over another department. You guys made the overwhelming moments feel manageable, and I honestly don’t know how I would have survived some of those nights without your patience. To Elysia, Iqra, and Claire: I know we are leaving the department in good hands. I mean, Elysia, you are a damn good editor, and I know you’ll train our EiTs to be just as incredible. My best advice? Enjoy the next however many issues you have left. One day, you’ll be where I am, writing some sappy, sentimental comment that will find itself printed in a copy of The Spectator, something that you’ll probably hold on to for a long time (I know I will).

Even now, here I am procrastinating writing this closing comment—partially because I don’t feel like writing, partially because I think it’s hard to sum up my experience in words, but mainly because I know this is the last issue I’ll ever work on. There will be no more late-night sendings and no more last-minute layout changes. Yes, those moments were exhausting, but they became part of my routine, and somehow along the way, they became something I know I’ll miss. Letting go of something that took up so much of my time and energy is harder than I expected because it’s also where I found a community I never knew I needed. I could go on forever about my experience here, but I’ll leave it at this.

Here’s to every late night and one last layout check. Bye!

With love,

Anjali <3

Anderson Oh, Business

Whether it was debating how bad the Mets really are or discussing political hot takes, The Spectator formed a community I’ll never forget. Through the countless emails sent and late-night layout fixes, my time in The Spectator not only brought me closer to my peers but also allowed me to meet many others. I never expected that when I joined as a freshman, I’d end up where I am today.

I want to thank former and current EICs, Khush, Emily, Myles, and Hifza, for tolerating my appropriation changes, the layout and web departments for hearing out my complaints, and any other editors I may have annoyed along the way. 

My only regret was failing to write an article on the tragic state of the Yankees (why did we DFA my goat, DJ LeMahieu?). I also want to thank my co-manager, Fiona, and wish our successors, Everett, Ken, and Tiffany, the best of luck!

Ada Gordon, Features

When I first stepped into Stuyvesant at the Open House for accepted students in 2022, two things grabbed my attention: the escalators and the newspaper. I didn’t notice the latter at first, caught up in a flurry of activity as I entered the school. But as I was walking out of the building with my dad, there I noticed it, sitting expectantly in the reliable wire racks. I almost left without a copy, but doubled back around as I walked past the scanners, knowing intrinsically that I needed to see what filled those 30 pages of newspaper print. Thus began my love of The Spectator. 

I joined in the fall of my freshman year, applying to the Features department without even fully knowing what it was. I remember feeling daunted by our first meeting, where the many rules of citing interviews were spelled out for us—and where they ended the meeting, saying, “There are many other rules you have to follow, so make sure to read the entire Stuyle guide tonight!” I remember feeling even more daunted when I opened my editors’ D1 edits for my first article, seeing the doc covered in more comments and suggestions than I had ever received for any piece of writing. 

However, there was always a feeling, which I still maintain, that the work of the club I was joining was important. In a world where so many small newspapers are going out of print and then out of business, and where fewer and fewer people—especially young people—choose to actually open a newspaper to get their news, the fact that Stuyvesant manages to publish a thick, densely printed newspaper every two weeks is nothing short of incredible. 

For that reason alone, I had to continue. So I did, signing up for topics on issues ranging from affirmative action to students’ grievances with teachers who didn’t let them use the bathroom during class, to a profile of a student making music for Universal Studios. I can’t say all of these articles were groundbreaking, or even always the most interesting, but I maintain that The Spectator as a whole is—each of its 17 annual publications. 

When I look back on my three and a half years of high school, The Spectator is one of the biggest, most important parts of my entire experience, something that has helped my writing immeasurably and let me be part of a wonderful community of people so willing and excited to do this important work. Thank you so much, Hifza, Abby, Cathleen, Dalia, Olivia, Emily, and all the Features editors who came before me, and especially my fellow editors: Leah, Grace, William, and Noa. I am so proud and honored to have been a part of this incredible endeavor. 

—Ada

Aarya Balakrishnan, Science

For a while, science seemed lifeless. Newton and Einstein alone encompassed 95 percent of our curriculum, so, admittedly, I reduced the subject to a set of infallible rules devised by ancient men. But The Spectator helped me see something different. 

Artificial ice blood vessels. New abortion medication. CAR-T cells alleviating aging. Every other week, I was amazed by the sheer volume of discovery to be found, and every other other week, I couldn’t wait to see what I’d learn next. From those late nights spent in freshman year combing through papers, to afternoons spent marveling at the discovery of new planets while I edited, my view of the scientific field transformed into one of a vibrant, breathing, shared mosaic of ideas. 

So, as my time as an editor comes to a conclusion, I think I have another hypothesis: if everyone asked more questions, then the world would be a better place. So, go out, explore how our universe works, engage in thoughtful research, and keep asking “Why?” And don’t forget to hyperlink your sources on the key phrase. I think the world would also be better if everyone did that.

Thank you to my wonderful co-editor, Sonya (YaYa 4 Life), to my writers for being so flexible, and to the future generation of Spec Sci, Narnia, and Isabel! My four years at The Spectator have taught me to see many things differently, yet exactly one thing has stayed the same: I can’t wait to see what comes next. 

Stay extraordinary,

Aarya