Dear Knoch Highschool,

I’m not good at goodbyes. At the end of every school year since I was in kindergarten, I’ve always cried. The saddest part of the year is having to leave all of your friends and favorite teachers all summer, but there is always next year… right? 

I can’t help but to wonder how life will go on after this, after knoch, after I graduate highschool. I have a general idea, of course. I’m going to college to be an art teacher and hopefully one day be someone’s favorite teacher. I guess I’d still feel the same at the end of the school year when I’m teaching, too. I’d miss my students, the ones I’ve grown fond of and my teacher friends who I’d gossip about the district with. 

On the final day of K-3rd grade, all the teachers would stand outside of the primary school and wave to us as we departed on buses. This was always the part that got to me when I was younger. Seeing everyone one last time saying their final goodbyes with a simple wave. The day we graduate, we will be doing just the same instead by throwing our caps in the air. 

Writing for the Knight Times has been one of my favorite things to do during my time here. I had gone to Knoch my entire life other than my 8th grade and freshman year. When I came back my sophomore year I had Mrs. West first period. I will always remember how much she enjoyed reading whatever I wrote; she always told me I was a great writer. One day, she said “I need to see you in newspaper or yearbook next year, you are one of the best writers in this school.” Maybe it wasn’t worded exactly like that, but it was something along those lines. 

Now in my senior year, I am in both newspaper and yearbook. I love both of these classes, and I think the hardest part of graduating is leaving newspaper behind. I am forever grateful for Mrs. West pushing me in the right direction. I love writing stories about what feels important to me, talking to administrators, teachers, students. I love making goofy featured images, fun critiques on random art projects, and reading inappropriate comments on the backend of the website. 

I will miss Ms. T most of all; her silly remarks and many laughs we’ve had together as a class. She makes both newspaper and yearbook so fun and unpredictable. She has to be one of the most down to earth people I know, and I am thankful to have had her guide not only me but many of my classmates throughout these past couple of years. 

This is my goodbye.

Signing off,

Izzy Rock