Letter from the Editor
Dear Reader,
Since my last Editorial article at the end of 2019, it feels like we’re all living in a different, much more isolated and apocalyptic, world. This has been a hectic time for me, with lots to think about: COVID-19, and all of the societal issues that it has exposed. Black Lives Matter. Graduation and life after high school. For this issue, I wrote the longest and most important article I have written during my time with the Journal — my first, long overdue step into publicly voicing a political opinion. I hope that I was able to helpfully express why this movement should matter to everyone, and I hope what I’ve said about performative activism resonates with some of you. I encourage others who, like me, have the privilege to hesitate to jump into politics, to enter the conversation, even if you start by talking to a few friends. What a great way to stay in touch with your friends during quarantine!
I don’t think I can condense any of my opinions or feelings about the times we’re living through, or my own upcoming graduation, into one coherent letter. Instead, I will let the articles in this issue speak for themselves, and use this space to reflect on the smaller realization that this will be my last Letter as the editor-in-chief of the Pixel Journal.
I’ve truly treasured my time building the Journal as a publication. In one of my favorite college essays, I talked about my work on the Journal in connection to one of my favorite Hamilton lyrics: “What is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden you never get to see.” When Alexander Hamilton reflected upon his legacy, he realized that he was satisfied with the foundation he had laid for the nation he had fought to build, even if he wouldn’t personally see America settle into its newfound freedom. Over time, I’ve realized that my biggest hope for my “high school legacy” is to have helped enrich the experiences of future OHS students.
When the Journal was passed on to me, I envisioned transforming it into a living journal for students to appreciate each others’ unique experiences and to relish in our shared ones — a ‘hub’ that would spark new friendships through discussion of topics that every student could relate to. I’ve always said that although I won’t have a high school campus to revisit, when I recall my time at OHS, I’ll remember a ‘place’ I called home. My hope was that the Journal would plant the seeds for OHS’s tight-knit community to continue to blossom, so that the sentiment holds true for every student. While this vision hasn’t come to fruition yet, I’m so proud to see the Journal begin to fulfill this role, and I could not be more excited to see where the future Journal staff takes this publication next.
I’m absolutely delighted to announce that the Journal’s next editor-in-chief will be Paige Yeung, who I’ve had the pleasure to know and work with over the past couple of years. Paige, I trust you to bring your thoughtful writing, keen analysis, balanced perspective, and calm leadership to the Journal. I know that you will continue to come up with interesting new ideas to write about, and I cannot imagine anyone better prepared for and more dedicated to this role.
To end my most jumbled letter yet, I simply want to thank OHS for the past six years. My fellow seniors, my instructors, my college counselors, everyone I’ve peer tutored and who has peer tutored me, everyone who I’ve been in a club with — you have all made me who I am today, and you have all made my time at OHS radiant. I have used thousands of words over the years in attempts to articulate what makes our unlikely, unbreakable bonds so meaningful to me, and each time I am unsatisfied. Each of you, and every pocket of time we were lucky enough to spend together, is an infinity that I will never be able to capture. Still, I hold the comfort and conviction that our connections are supremely real. They have survived the tests of time and distance, and the ways in which we have touched one another and helped each other to grow more confident, critical, considerate, reflective, and generous will permeate through the rest of our lives. I have faith that we’ll continue to keep in touch and reunite as we always have, infinitely extending our little infinities together.
With love,
Hannah
Editor-in-Chief