Letter from the Editor

Dear Reader,

As a senior, I’ve spent much of my time reflecting on how to stay involved with the OHS community and make the most of my OHS experience during these strange times. Since the ball started rolling for this school year, I’ve thought a lot about the role of the Pixel Journal in cultivating that community.

I came to OHS with an idea of particular interests I wanted to pursue, classes I wanted to take, and groups that I wanted to join. Since I came to OHS, I’ve had the chance to do almost everything I envisioned doing. Yet I always remind myself that I have so much more to experience and think about, and many more topics and narratives to explore. I often imagine how much more invested I might become in a topic if I simply discussed it with someone or thought about it in more depth.

Especially as I oversee the Journal, I face the seeming infinitude of stories to be told within our vibrant student body. I know that no number of words can do justice to all the small things that motivate you every day or all the incredible things that you do. When you’re featured or mentioned or share an opinion in an article, you share with readers a small part of the infinity that is within you, a glimpse into a new part of the OHS community.

From your experience, though, I’m sure all of you know the reality of not being able to interact with people out of convenience in an online environment. Without the opportunity to attend in-person meetups, the OHS community might seem even further out of reach. In the midst of current circumstances, the Journal is here to remind you that there is still much to document and learn from within OHS, that the OHS experience is shaped by you and the people around you.

The sky outside your window may be a different color from someone else’s. Perhaps you’re taking classes in a different topic area or participating in different clubs. But sometimes what connects you to the OHS community is simply an interest in hearing a new narrative—a part of what defines OHS as the place that we know it to be.

In this issue, numerous OHSers have generously shared their perspectives with us at the Journal. Along with our dedicated student government members, who each discussed their vision for the new school year, we feature several fascinating members of our community: Sophia North ’21, Alina Rahim ’22, and biology instructor Dr. Vetter. We’ve also compiled a September playlist and published pieces about OHSers’ book recommendations and judgment in an online environment.

As always, I hope that you will find enjoyment and inspiration from our newly published articles. And as you venture into the rest of the school year, I encourage you to think about both what stories inspire you and what stories you want to tell.

Cheers,

Paige

Editor-in-Chief