Jenny Chen
Editor-in-Chief
My first encounter with the Argo’s Graduation Issue was in seventh grade. Contrary to popular belief, it wasn’t when the issue was distributed to homerooms at the end of the school year, but rather when I decided to explore Argo archives on SIS when I was bored sometime halfway through the year. The Graduation Issue seemed different in the best way, and as I scrolled through each page of the PDF, I only hoped to reach that day where I could fill out my senior surveys and celebrate my journey as a BLS student.
Well, here I am, six years later.
I still remember the first time I walked into 016 ready to be a Layout associate. I had joined the Argo on a whim at the beginning of eighth grade and I didn’t know anyone else who did Layout at the time. I still remember being told that my textboxes didn’t align with the guidelines and I needed to keep extending the text box because spacing needed to work out. I still feel the frustration when the VA doesn’t want to work out, or a page won’t work, so one of the articles should be turned to 3 columns, but then it messes up all the spacing, so you need to respace everything AGAIN. I don’t know how I made it out of my first Production Week, to be honest (it might’ve been the food).
Speaking of reminiscing, I have some respected elderly to thank first. Emma, Selina and Theresa: thanks for taking me as your young Layout child (Assistant Editor) as we braved the end of Zoom Layout and the year of too many PDF edits in one rounch. If you’re still wondering, yes, I’ve turned in all my English essays on time! Sorry for the unnecessary stress I may have induced as I kept writing my freshman year research paper as we were finishing that Grad PDF. Liz: Sometimes, I wonder how you managed to stay sane during your two years as EiC. I used to think it was funny how you pre-drafted all the PDF Edits emails on Friday, but now, I understand. Thanks for staying up on Sunday nights for the PDF even though you were ready to sleep.
Now, I know at the Argo, we (or rather I, as evidenced by my countless of PDF edits this year) are particular with our orders of how names, positions and sections are formatted, but I’m gonna break the order today by starting first with Layout — my forever home. Lily: you’re the real trooper for always staying up. Never forget that one time I was so done after Round 4 of edits and I just passive-aggressively sent a final PDF to Selizabina because I was ready to crash. In all honesty though, you’ve been the backbone. You’ve never shied away from helping out any of us on PDF edits and you are always the first to respond to my questions. Mari: though this year was plagued by a couple of MacBook woes, thanks for always loving to layout the Fun Page (I don’t know how you do it since I’ve been slightly traumatized after my first attempt). I’m so glad you applied for Layout Editor after I nudged back then; this section wouldn’t be the same without you. Aidan: thanks for teaching me the ropes in eighth grade. Those days of not understanding spacing an article out were rough. Sophia: you’re the new Layout queen! I can’t wait to see where you bring our section next. I know times (the Grad Issue) might get hectic, but trust me, it’ll be a lot of fun. To our newly crowned Layout editors, Alan, Ashley and Sam: congrats on your promotion! The heart of the section is now in your hands. It’s been a long time coming ever since y’all opened Kwalitty for the first time. I’m forever proud that y’all chose to be Layout minions.
Ok, now I’ll go back in order. News: you were my second home after Layout. Though the Zoom calls were intimidating at first, I think I found my stride after taking on my first solo endeavor of writing at the end of Zoom year. Kevin: you embody the News section. After holding down the fort for the last three years and always having detailed comments after reading each article, I’ll miss seeing your announcements in the News Google Classroom. Keep me updated on your next adventures, whether it’s with the Crimson or whatever cool government-related thing you take on! Ailin: Argo aside, I’ll miss our daily chats as I walk from CoGo to Asian Studies. Thanks for listening to all my rants, always having the time to stay late during Production Weeks and speedily cutting down articles (or adding to them) when spacing absolutely doesn’t work. Sylvia: it’s been a long time hasn’t it? I still remember when we were third graders writing letters in Girl Scouts and I was struggling while you had a perfectly-written letter. I’m so glad this passion has manifested in you becoming an editor. Mary: you’ve grown so much since we co-wrote together on your first-ever News article. I’m excited to see what’s next in your journalism journey.
Forum: we’ve pushed the boundaries of what type of articles get published this year and it has been so refreshing. Jessie: I’ll miss our AP Lit talks — I don’t think one Production Week went by without me bringing up this class — and giving each other shoulder massages. Keep enthusiastically taking pictures with your mom iPhone case next year, and I can’t wait to see them when I visit! Michelle: every time I’ve walked into our Editors’ Meetings this year, I’ve always been excited to hear your latest article idea. While I know you won’t be the one coming up with these ideas this next year, I’m excited to see how you generate this passion into leading the paper as a whole. Hannah: I’ve loved seeing you grow into your editorial position this year — your passion for journalism is unmatched. Please invite me to any journalism talks the Argo will host next year with your fancy connections. Annie: I know the jump from Contributing Writer to Assistant Editor is a lot, but you’ve made it work this year. I know you’ll keep growing as you continue as a part of the Editorial Board.
A&E: sorry for all the times y’all have gone last during Editors’ Meetings this year. Penny: I know you were scared when we jumped into last year’s Grad Issue with a new quartet of editors, but look at us now! Thanks to your guidance, A&E articles have been my favorite to read during PDF edits. Lena: even though you switched from News to A&E this year, it seems like you’ve always been a part of A&E. Even if you had many after-school meetings this year, I knew I could always count on your texts to let me know. Z: you are a star. From starring in many musicals and plays to having the most fire ‘fits and making me laugh every time I open the corner for the first time, I’m amazed at how you do it all. Alice: you’ve been a rock this year. Thanks for always being there any day during Production Week this year and answering all my A&E questions. I know that now as a Head Editor, you dedication for this club will only continue to shine.
Sports: I’m gonna be honest, in another world, I would’ve been a Sports writer. Unfortunately, I think Zoom might’ve scared me a little bit, but nevertheless, I’ve been the most enthusiastic to see what y’all have come up with this year. Jessica: thanks for always doing a meticulous check of each Sports article turned in. Your questions at the EiC table have steered the section into new places. Vera: you’re the reasoning behind some of the big changes we’ve made this year. For so long, Argo processes, to me, have felt like a tradition, but I’m glad we took the step to zoom out and reflect on whether everything is working the way it should be. Caitlin: thanks for being our Boston sports nerd. I’m going to be honest, this is probably the one part of Sports that I’m not as familiar with, but I could always count on your article ideas. Rachel: I first met you as a Layout associate, but your dedication to Sports is so impressive. Thanks for always being able to write any last-minute assignments while you balance your editorial duties as well as keep coming to Layout issue after issue.
Copy: unfortunately, I will continue writing with Oxford commas. I will, however, make sure my sentences don’t start with conjunctive adverbs (admittedly though, I still look up what they are every time I PDF edit, just in case). Fiona: thanks for answering my gazillion questions whether in person, as I learned the illustrious rules of the Copy bible, or over text. Get some sleep, please! Lindsey: you’ve been the last man standing on Monday afternoons, but that has helped us a lot this year during Production Weeks. Haley: I’ve had so much fun slaying AP Latin together and copy editing Corners during our Latin V studies. Make sure you keep drawing stick figures on the next whiteboards you encounter! Vicky: Tuesdays have been chaotic this year, but you’ve made sure that the Copy associates get started on the right foot; thank you.
Photo: you can always count on me to tell you which photos don’t need a caption or are cut after dummies are turned in. Sorry for all the last minute notices I’ve given this year and in years past. Andrew: though you are Photo’s true nepo baby, you’ve taken this section to new heights. We’ve been talking for so long about getting rid of stock photos, so a big thanks, especially to your mother for taking that Celtics photo in the November Issue. Even though one chapter is closing, as here we are writing our farewells, I know I’ll see you in the next (four)! Alicia: thanks for keeping Photo sane this year, especially that one Wednesday when no one else was there. Secretly I’m a fan of white chocolate macadamia cookies from Insomnia, but to make sure we don’t need to send you to the hospital, I’ve stuck it out this year just for you. Parker: please creatively direct another photoshoot for me! Your passion for photography extends so far beyond just this newspaper, so I’m glad to be part of your journey. Lauren: apologies for cropping photos in InDesign so much that they are no longer 7×5. This attention to detail makes me proud to have you lead the next generation of Photo children.
I have one last group of retired individuals to thank: my former Photo editors. Mary: I know you’re an extra 1,126 miles away from Boston, but that only makes me more proud to see your work as a college journalist. 016 dearly misses your show choir dances, harmonies with whatever we are blasting on Spotify and your musical costumes. Karen: you, too, are half the East Coast away from Boston, yet I still feel your presence every day when I log in to the Latin V Instagram (and post less often than you did) or see Lauren using your DIY-ed SD card adapter (how does that thing stay intact?). Keep telling me about your triple major adventures or any stories about questionable Latin test moments. Alex: thanks for being my chauffeur that one beach day. To many more! I’ve dearly missed your Argo baked goods as well this past year, just Insomnia doesn’t hit the same.
To the best club adviser in all the hundreds of rooms and clubs of Boston Latin School, Ms. Moon: there will never be enough words to thank all the work you’ve done for this club. I do, however, have some highlights. Thanks for dealing with our stress, as Joanna would say, from this year. I’m glad to have spearheaded all our new ideas this year together. There are also no words to describe how much I’ll miss the candy bucket in 207. I know I ate way too much candy during interviews this year, and I’m forever thankful for that source of energy over those two weeks. I’m sad to say I’ve never had you as my English teacher, but our talks about King Lear and reminiscing on the English 11 curriculum I never got to experience makes me feel like I did get to see part of what 207 has to offer to its students.
To my other half of JOE(anny), Joanna: where do I even begin. I don’t think anyone embodies the Argo more than you do. I quite literally wouldn’t be here without you — you’re the reason I’m in the Argo today. I’m eternally grateful you came up to me during the EC Fair in eighth grade, and while I didn’t join the Argo then and there, it did get me thinking about it that night, and I’ve never looked back since I filled out that Google Form. I’ll miss yelling “hello” over FaceTime when you start cutting out in the middle of our calls and staying up till obscene hours at NJCL conventions as we scramble to make sure spirit is well-coordinated for the next day of convention. Words can’t describe how much I’m going to miss you. I can’t wait to see what you’ll accomplish across the river and please let me know when you’ve written your first piece of long-form journalism, I know it’s going to be straight FIRE. Keep aging like fine garum, girlie!
To Hannah and Michelle (aka Mannah): the ship is now in your hands! I can’t wait to see where y’all will take the Argo over the next year. Sometimes it may feel like you are treading in deep waters, but trust me, y’all got this. Please save me a copy of each issue and remind me when it’s a Final Friday week next year, I will be visiting.
To the rest of the new board: congrats on making it through your first issue! Though it may have felt stressful and like a tremendous task over the last few weeks, I hope it has been rewarding.
To my little sister, Helen: keep at it! I’ve had so much fun seeing the start of your journey as a Layout minion and I hope you keep making the trek to 016 even when I’m not there stealing some spinny chair from the corner of the classroom.
Finally to all of y’all, especially those who are flipping through the Graduation Issue or even a copy of the Argo for the first time: join the Argo! Trust me it’s a lot of fun and it’s something you never regretted doing. There will be something for you, even if you don’t like writing (truth be told, when I first joined I never had an intention to write). And even if it is the middle of the school year and you didn’t catch us at the EC Fair, we are always accepting new writers and associates.
Argo, Argoing, Argone. I never thought the day would come when it would be time for me to say goodbye, but the time is now.
Valete amici and slayout, it’s been an honor being your EiC this year.
Jenny <3
Joanna Lin
Editor-in-Chief
From the dank depths of 016 to the warmer climate of Ms. Moon’s 207, this newspaper has been with me through it all.
My first days at the Argo were rocky. I was “John’s little sister” and the awkward sixie. The senior who was paired with me for my first article clearly did not trust me: she wrote the entire thing without telling me.
I vowed that that would not happen again. And under News legends Isabella Tran and Meredith Zielonka, John Lin and Nadine Han, my writer’s voice grew. Hours in Lab 016 were peppered with laughter as we churned out copy edits and learned how to pop our hips.
Even during the pandemic, I found my own world in the Argo. While you could find me on Twitch watching Corpse Husband play Among Us or screaming on FaceTime playing the atrocious game Family Style — coincidentally, always with some friends from Argo — I spent my other hours deep in the channels of the Argo Copy Discord server, streaming a document to edit while listening to “Astronaut in the Ocean.”
When I could touch grass again as sophomore, I found life in the OG Newsies squad, who made leading News so fun and unforgettable. With us, a fresh revamp of the News section began, with the rise of graphics, Google Classroom and a deepened vendetta against Forum for topic coverage (News and Forum Editors, please arrive at a truce and start covering the same topic in both sections this year). That was the year the famed Alex Strand was a News writer, the History of Abortion timeline was published (a true magnum opus) and Kevin Zhong became my BFF.
Production Weeks during my junior year, however, were the most exciting parts of the school year. You’d hoped that people weren’t getting down and dirty in Lab 016, but Jessie, Andrew and I unfortunately were. Our sweaty Just Dance sessions — our specialities being “Juju on That Beat,” “Gangnum Style” and “What Makes You Beautiful” — hopefully did not scare the Layout babies away on late Friday nights. I won’t forget our long Taylor Swift singing sessions as we pushed in chairs and tidied the laptop areas.
But, to be honest, if there was a year in the Argo I wouldn’t trade for any other, it would be this year.
This year, I learned so much about what it means to not only be a journalist but to be an empath. This year, I began to think with more intention, to not be afraid to stand up for the student voice. This year, I learned how to open up to people who challenged my thinking. I’m becoming more human.
It’s all thanks to the Argo. And its people.
These past six years have seen multiple iterations of the Argo. These iterations could not have been possible without all the editorial boards, writers, associates and readers engaging with it, critiquing it, loving it, hating it. I have to acknowledge all of them.
To my ‘22 Newsies, Katie and Alanna, you made my first year leading News unforgettable. Alanna, thank you for showing us questionable BR images that elicit gasps from me and Kevin and for being my go-to in the case of emergencies (see: fire drill during Argo’s first summer workshop). Wishing the best sound experience for your final two years at Simmons while they finish construction. More importantly, thank you for being my partner-in-crime in our campaign to take down the anti-Comic Sans epidemic. Katie, you are the definition of sunshine: every time you smile, the twinkle in your eyes are enough to make my heart flutter. I hope I randomly bump into you while going to Commonwealth Ave. Goodwill.
Kevin! I am so glad that you are still going to be around next year. I hope our long-winded political debates, text exchanges of Vox videos and ideation for a more involved News section never end. Your guiding hand has led News to powerful places since eighth grade with your legendary transportation article. You were the best partner-in-crime: fighting with Forum for article topics and with Layout for more graphics would not have been possible without your companionship and our shared love for the section.
Ailin, Ross, Mary, Olivia — our lovely additions to the OG Newsies — thank you for taking on the helm and continuing to steer News into the direction we all want it to be. I am so excited for all of you to create articles that reflect the school and student voices, to shed light on the ins and outs of 78 Avenue Louis Pasteur. Keep an ear and a pulse on the School, always.
Jessie Wang. You are my backbone. Your assertiveness, ability to burst into a beautiful rendition of any song during karaoke and perseverance in creating ricotta cheese with me for AP Chemistry inspire me every day. My Ms. Norbury, talented flute player, Forum section’s greatest leader, public declaimer, captain of varsity girls’ Volleyball, femme fatale, you can be anything — and you will change the world. I will never forget our devious prefrosh activities, trips to CVS and Ice Spice jam sessions. I love you <3
Mark and Roan, you guys balance each other in the best ways possible. Your passion for creating relevant and accurate opinion journalism has shown through your writing; Roan, please start that argumentation workshop. Mark, teach our writers how to write those longform analytical articles that you have gotten so good at. Ariel and Annie, don’t be afraid to make the reforms you want to make and teach your writers to be assertive!
Penny, thank you for being the rock of A&E: I appreciate your constant presence and unfailing ability to juggle editing while being a crew god. Lena, even though you were a News Editor in an alternative universe, you can take your talents anywhere, from A&E to A.S.I.A. Alice, I can’t wait to see you grow as a leader and as a journalist in the next year. Z, the passion and love you pour into every inch of everything you do leaves me in awe every time I encounter you. Your curiosity, inquiry, well-spokenness and powerful intensity went beyond A&E and throughout the Argo. Indeed, you likely would have been a frequent interviewee of the newspaper, but thank you for choosing to be an editor. Don’t ever stop writing, acting, thinking, directing, creating.
Jessica, Vera, Caitlin — growing the Sports section by your side has been the best experience ever. The section is robust and lively, powerful and athletic, just as you all are. Thank you all for being the most dependable and productive Sports section we have had in recent Argo history. Liam, Juliet, Rachel, Dimitra — you have a legacy to protect. You all are so strong as writers and leaders, so step into your role with gumption, as wrestling coach Mr. Gibbons would say!
Fiona! Those copy editing sessions back on Discord were unbeatable. Though it hurt my heart to abandon the section, you held Copy together for three years. You know the section more than anyone I know, its vices and virtues, and made the Copy Bible better than it ever could have been. And perhaps, one day, an Argonaut will avenge you in the Great Parentheses-Comma War of 2023. Haley and Lindsey, I appreciate you for always being strong Copy Editors and leaders within the section. To the new Copy section of Meilin, Andrew and Vicky: if you need anything, text me and Fiona.
Oh, Lillius. If you were not Lily An Huynh, you would be Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson the way you carried the section when no one else did. I appreciated your presence next to me at 9:00 P.M. on Friday as we silently grinded out layouts together amid the loudest rap music. It was an honor being Head Cruciverbalist with you, even if we had to scrap a Crossword board four times before we could create something that worked. I guess that’s how ingenuity works, though. I hope I will still hear your laugh all the way from Amherst.
Mari, your big personality and even bigger heart lit up each latter half of Production Week. I won’t forget The Group Poop, creating the Argo-Crew pipeline and making eyes with you across 016 as we sung a song in unison. I personally think you are a genetic win!
To our new Slayout babies, you got this! Sophia, your spunkiness will take you even farther than Layout, but, for now, use it to train your peer editors. Graduation Issue is the toughest, and it will get better from here.
Andrew H. Lay! Your gargantuan aura and your gargantuan camera with the gargantuan flash was something I could depend on every Production Week. Thank you for recording our Hamilton jam sessions, our hugs and all the other incriminating moments of Argo. You will be missed, cameraman. Marriage soon!
Alicia, I’m so glad you got to be on Photo this year. I always want another excuse to see your face, and I have the Argo to thank for granting me more excuses. Parker, my Poop-Map partner-in-crime, your ability to Super Smash photo assignments will never fail to impress me. I loved our puzzlemaking sessions at various Boston cafes: let’s make more puzzles soon.
Lauren, you have the blessing of your Photo forebears and myself. You awe me with your photos and ability to corral your associates every time. Alex, please spread your love for live photography to our associates: your involvement with the Argo, even as an associate, warmed my heart.
Ben, I enjoyed our talks and I enjoyed seeing you in your photographer element even more. Keep it up!
Now, onto my own forebears.
From my old Copy days: Cindy and Alice, thanks for taking me under your wing and being the first to show me what it means to be a leader within the Argo.
Mary Bosch, Eliza Duff-Wender, Alex Strand, thanks for showing me that love for journalism can spread to real love in a community. Your collective warmth made the Argo the best place to be on a late night. You all inspire me with how much journalism you still do. I love you, times a gazillion.
Selizabina, I now know what the importance of not shuffling the Argo playlist is. And I made sure to take out the pizza boxes.
To my brother, John, you inspired me to join the Argo. As a middle schooler, I loved following you around, trailing you at 7:00 A.M. to help with distribution, sitting next to you in 016 as you edited and helping you win “Best Carnation Seller” by giving News the advantage of accessing the eighth grade market. Thanks for humbling me when I needed it, and for lifting me up in harder times. I’ll always talk to you about the newspaper and journalism, even when we are in our seventies. If someone asked me who is a journalist I look up to, it will be you and your level headedness, intellect and dry wit. I can’t wait to do some more journalism with you next year.
Ms. Kwan, I’m sorry for that time our carnations broke one of BLS’s tables. And for the times that the Argo has violated 016’s food policy. Michelle and Hannah will learn from our mistakes. Thanks for your sharp humor and ability to command a room of Argonauts.
Ms. Moon, I know I’ve said this to you before, but you’re the GOAT. You helped the Argo navigate uncharted waters with your steady hand, and Jenny and I were lucky to have you with us. Thank you for being the Argo’s ego (AP Lit-Freud reference!), and for fighting for a journalism course at BLS. Consider me one of your proponents and supporters in the effort. The Argo has changed for the better because of you, and you have impacted each and every one of us from each generation of the newspaper. I will miss you tons.
To my other half, Jenny Chen, you’re an absolute ten! From that very first FaceTime where we screamed our happiness at getting Editor-in-Chief to our very last as we sent out the decision emails for the new board, you have been at my side through it all. Our feverish texts before sending out the PDF, my repeated questioning on how to change the amount of columns in InDesign, our new plans to create an Argo alumni board and our ability to write an Editor’s Note — and somehow even integrate a graphic — in no time will always make me look back at our tenure as JOE fondly. It’s joever <3
Our newest Pookies-in-Chief, Hannah and Michelle, I’m sure Mannah will grow on me one day. You both exude a shared passion for journalism and deep love for the newspaper we all care for. I am so excited for you to take Argo to even greater heights, and for you to make the changes you talked about in your interviews. Make life for Dearest Mother Moon a little easier, please. And get me a quarter zip soon. And please start doing Multimedia. And text me if you need anything.
If you have gotten this far, congratulations! JOIN. THE. ARGO. This newspaper is on its way to becoming a living, breathing being of the School, capturing the zeitgeist of the student body. Times are changing, and the Argo is, too. If you want to be a part of this, stop by 207. You don’t have to be a great writer; we’ll make you a great journalist.
Thank you, Argo. It has been an honor.
Joanna Lin
Kevin Zhong
News Editor
Five years ago during eighth grade, I joined the Argo as a Contributing Writer for News. I remember walking into the first general workshop with my friends and playing a Kahoot game. I’m pretty sure I placed on the leaderboard because I got an Argo pen as a prize (I still have it).
I wasn’t sure where the Argo was going to take me at the time. I was interested in following current events — specifically politics — so the News section was a natural choice for me. It was my first experience in journalism. I still remember the excitement I felt when I saw my first ever article printed on the November 2019 issue. My momentum continued through the January 2020 issue, where my second ever article was on the front page. I interviewed Ms. Skerritt for that article about the traffic problems during the mornings. Then came the March 2020 issue. I had all my interviews done and half of my article written when everyone received the fateful news on Friday, March 13, at 6:52 P.M. that schools were going to be closed for six weeks because of COVID-19. Although the climate strike that I was writing about was canceled, I still wrote the article as if the event was still happening for extra practice.
My skills as a news journalist couldn’t have been possible without Nadine Han (‘21). Nadine was a news editor during the time I was a writer. Thank you, Nadine, for mentoring me and giving me advice on how to write news articles during the two second writers’ meetings we had in-person that year. Your guidance helped me to create a strong news journalism foundation that would carry me for the rest of Argo. Thank you for believing in me and encouraging me to apply as a News Editor in eighth grade, even though I was still a contributing writer who had only written three articles. Your mentorship and guidance better positioned me to apply for the job when I got the position a year later.
When I got access to the News Editor email in 2021, I found a memorable quote from the writer’s evaluation on my first article in 2019: “This kid definitely deserves a five [out of five] (probably more). He’s an eighth grader, but his article is probably the best out of all the articles I’ve read for this issue (and also that I’ve read in a while, honestly). Despite being new (and really young), he knows how to write formally, objectively and how to not make it a seven-paged essay (crazy, right?). Although I personally think he could have worded or organized some things better, he has a very good foundation. If he continues to perform this well, can we make him a Staff Writer?”
Indeed, I became a Staff Writer by the end of my eighth grade year. During my freshman year on Zoom, I continued to write articles. By the end of that year, I became a News Editor, which was my first leadership position of a club at BLS.
Thank you Joanna, Katie and Alanna for being the first Newsies team. I had so much fun getting to know you all and working on the Argo the year we got back from COVID-19. I enjoyed our many off topic conversations in the Newsies group chat (the tradition of naming the group chat “Newsies” still continues today). We were the Newsies who brought the News section roaring back post-Zoom year. Katie and Alanna, it was sad to see you guys retire from the Argo to go off to college — thank you guys for making my first year of editing one of my favorite years in the Argo. Remember, Comic Sans > Times New Roman.
Joanna, thank you for being the best news editing partner I could ask for. I remember our first time editing articles together over a phone call on Memorial Day 2021. During our two-year tenure together on the News team, we helped to usher in an age of reform for the News section, due in part to our very similar reform, ambitious mindset to the role that news journalism plays in society. Thank you for making the long hours of editing, writing our investigative piece on climate initiatives at BLS and back-to-school post-COVID-19 article, battling Forum for article ideas and causing mayhem with our many, many complicated requests for news graphics and timelines inspired by Vox, something that I looked forward to every month. I am grateful we were able to work together in News. Thank you for bringing Argo to new heights as EiC. Finally, thank you for being one of my best friends at BLS — I am excited for our next four years together across the Charles River; cheers to more basketball and political discussions next year. See you at the Crimson!
Ailin, thank you for being an awesome News Editor these past two years. You have a strong dedication and passion for journalism and the Argo, and I look forward to the new heights you will take the News section next year. Thank you also for being a good friend and math project partner.
Elyssa, Mary and Sylvia, thank you for being great News Editors and for being part of the News team. We have certainly accomplished much together. Ross and Olivia, welcome to the News Editing team. I have worked with both of you for the past two to three years, and I am excited to see what you will accomplish next year!
For the last three years, I have been proud to lead the News section. During my tenure as an Editor, we established stronger methods of communication and mentorship between Editors and Writers through a newly made News Google Classroom (which I changed the banner photo like almost every two weeks) and feedback system. We expanded the vision for the News section to cover more investigative pieces and historical and current events that are relevant to the BLS community. In three years, the News section grew from a small group of ten writers, to a community of 40 writers. All of this would not have been possible without the teamwork of the News Editors that I have worked with during my time as an Editor.
To Jenny, thank you for leading the Argo this past year and for being a strong and reliable News Staff writer. Also, thank you for making all of News’s timelines and graphics when you were in Layout — they could not have been possible without you! I will remember our time together in ELA 11 in the best decorated room at BLS (230).
To Fiona, thank you for being a good friend in and out of the Argo. I know that you are dedicated in leading the Copy section every issue.
To Aidan, thank you for being my first new friend at BLS. I still remember clearly in Homeroom 236 when you came up to me and talked to me on the first day of sixie year when Ms. Gribaudo asked us to turn and talk to someone. Thank you for keeping the Layout section moving in the seat at the corner of 016.
To Andrew, how could we forget all the stuff that happened in fourth grade (I still have that class photo and the packet of slideshow stories easily accessible, so beware). It’s crazy to think how we have known each other for almost a decade. Thank you for your humor and for keeping the Photo section alive.
Congratulations to Michelle and Hannah for becoming the next EiCs! You guys will do great and I am excited to see where you will take the Argo next year. Looking forward to this summer where both of you will be part of my Ward Fellows group!
Finally, thank you to Ms. Moon for leading the Argo. Everything we do in the Argo would not be possible without the long hours you put into mentoring and guiding us!
With that being said, my five years in the Argo has come to an end. I will miss the late Friday nights in 016 having great food with the editorial board and rushing to finish the PDF before 10:00 P.M. I will miss the early Wednesday mornings before school running around the entire building delivering freshly printed newspapers before 7:25 AM. I will miss selling carnations during the morning rush hour and those early 6:00 A.M. Valentine’s Day mornings hauling up heavy water buckets of carnations with donuts and hot chocolate. I am incredibly grateful for all the friendships and memories I have made along the way. I have grown so much as a writer, journalist and person since I joined the Argo way back in eighth grade. Thank you all for making the Argo an integral part of my BLS career.
Sylvia O’Hearn
Assistant News Editor
When I went to my first ever Writers’ Meeting in November of sophomore year, I never imagined that I would become one of the people standing in the hallway reading article assignments off of a Chromebook. Writing for News was my cautious attempt to get back involved with the Boston Latin School community after more than a year of online school, and I was half expecting it to be an awkward experience that I wouldn’t repeat. Now, as I get ready to graduate, I’m so glad that I showed up to Room 207 and kept coming back.
The Argo is definitely my favorite extracurricular activity I’ve been involved with during my years at BLS. It is impressively organized while still being student-led and containing differing perspectives. Everyone there is committed to putting together the best newspaper possible, driven by a genuine desire to add something to the BLS dialogue. They’re not afraid to take risks and learn from past mistakes.
Besides the writing, editing and media literacy skills I gained, the Argo has taught me how to collaborate with others more than any other experience I’ve had. This publication is a team environment through and through. From co-writing to PDF edits, every article goes through so many Argonauts that our responsibilities are dependent on each others.’ Because of this, everyone keeps a strong work ethic and holds each other accountable.
Thank you to Kevin and Ailin for being the best Head News Editors anyone could ask for.
You both are so dedicated to quality news articles and I can tell that you have real passion for journalism. The News section is what it is today because of you two and Joanna. Kevin, have a great time at Harvard. Ailin, I’m glad you’ll be here to lead the section into the next school year because your skills will continue to contribute so much.
To Mary, my fellow Assistant Editor, I’m so glad I got to know you and work with you. I appreciated having another introvert in the section. You have many talents and I know you will do great things, both in your two remaining years at BLS and beyond.
Jenny and Joanna, our universally beloved EiCs, thank you so much for giving your all to every issue of the Argo. You put in so many hours this past year to support all th Editors and writers, and it has never gone unnoticed. Jenny, thanks for being my friend since the third grade and for getting me interested in Argo in the first place. I probably would never have started writing if you weren’t here as a familiar face.
Of course, thank you to the other writing sections and especially the Production sections, who are the reason articles can see the light of day. Ross and Olivia, welcome to the News editing team. Make the 2024-2025 school year another great year for News!
As I get ready to graduate, I know I’m going to miss the Argo routines and team, but I’m very grateful for how it helped me grow. Every evening in room 016, every Writers’ Meeting and every morning spent distributing papers has formed lasting memories for me. I know that I will look back on the Argo as a central part of my high school experience.
Jessie Wang
Forum Editor
When I read the farewells of other Argo seniors, I would always think about what I would write in my own. Now, however, I can hardly articulate what I want to say. But I’ll try my best to express my gratitude and love for the Argo family.
I’ll begin with some individual shoutouts, since I always used to hunt for them in senior farewells. To Michelle, thank you so much for being my loyal editing companion and partner-in-crime. It’s been a whirlwind ride of scandals, stress and spreadsheets these past two years, but I am so glad to have had you by my side for all of it. Sorry for making you laugh during interviews :). To Hannah, you always blow me away with your intelligence and passion. I can’t wait to see the things you will do as EiC! To Mark, Roan, Ariel and Annie, I could not be more reassured of the future of Forum now that it rests in your capable hands. I am so proud of what our section has become and excited for what it will be. Please continue to gaslight, girlboss and gatekeep articles from News.
To Ailin, thank you so much for being my declamation buddy since freshman year. I still remember how we accidentally manifested a pandemic with our article about why 2020 was the best year to graduate. To Andrew, you always make meetings so much more entertaining because of your humor and ability to take the most violating photos of everyone. I would not have been able to survive these six years without you, even if you stopped taking the 35 halfway through sixie year. Jenny, thank you for commiserating about AP Lit timed writes with me at 1:00 A.M. and warning me about stiff shoulders. Lauren, I’ll miss our carpools so much but I know we’ll stay in touch.
While I loved editing articles and working with lovely Forum writers, I’m going to miss the times we goofed off during Production Week the most. Where else can I get a head massage (thank you Jenny) while listening to “Bikini Bottom,” editing an article about TikTok and trying to eat an Insomnia Cookie under the desk so Ms. Moon won’t see? When will I be able to sit in the big red orthopedic wrinkled EiC chair again? Most importantly, how will I cope if I never watch mostly-absent Layout associates pretend to get tipsy off shots of Fanta from tiny Dollar Store cups again?
Above all, I’m so grateful for all the people I’ve met because of this silly little canine club. When I was an eighth grader being rejected from a Staff Writer position, I never thought I would be as committed to this club as I am right now. The Argo has become such a staple in my BLS career because of the friends I’ve made and the things I’ve learned along the way (all hail the inverted triangle).
To the non-Argonauts reading this, JOIN FORUM! If you couldn’t tell by the four Forum editors and two Forum EiCs, Forum dominates the Argo (sorry not sorry). In all seriousness, I love every part of the Argo and will miss it dearly. It’s hard to imagine that I will never propose a Forum article idea or be yelled at/gently reminded by Layout to make a dummy, but I could not have asked for a better experience. For all the returning students, you’ve got this! It might seem dark now, but you’ll soon realize how far you’ve come along the way. For all my seniors, it’s all over! While it’s difficult to part with this chapter of our lives, there’s so much promise and fun ahead of us. To new horizons and onwards!
Penelope Meisel
A&E Editor
When I joined the Argo as a freshman during the paper’s first and only entirely virtual year, I thought meeting my editors, conducting interviews and learning Argo-specific grammar rules over Zoom would be the most difficult part of my time as a writer. Last spring, however, after becoming Head Editor of the then-entirely new A&E Editorial Board, the final year of my Argo career became one of the most challenging and rewarding learning experiences during my time at Boston Latin School.
Despite the challenges that came with learning the editing process, A&E has developed into a strong and reliant section over the past year. Every Editors’ Meeting, article idea and hour spent on trying to craft the perfect dummy (it turns out they were never that serious… sorry Lena, Alice and Z!) contributed to our section’s growth, and I am so proud of the work we have put in together.
Lena, thank you for being such an amazing head editor. I seriously could not have made it through the year successfully without your skill, commitment and willingness to take initiative at times when I wasn’t brave enough to. To Alice, I have absolutely loved working with you this year. It has been so great to watch you grow as an editor, leader and person, and I am so excited to see where the coming years take you — I am confident that you will continue to shine. Z, your commitment to not only the Argo but to so many BLS communities has always amazed me. You are an amazing writer, editor and leader, and I am so excited to see where life after high school takes you.
Anneliese, thank you for all your hard work and commitment this year. You are an amazing writer and I have no doubt that your transition to Assistant Editor will be seamless. To, Catherine, Kenneth, Alexandra, Isabella and Bridget — thank you for all of the work you put into the Argo this year! A&E has become such a wonderful culmination of all of your ideas, styles and interests, and I know that it will continue to grow under your roles as staff writers. Mindy, thank you for all you have contributed to A&E over the past years. You are an amazing writer and leader, and I’m so happy that we re-connected through the Argo.
To the 2024-2025 A&E board: there is no one else I would trust more to be in charge of A&E next year! It has been so rewarding to witness the section grow stronger, and I am extremely confident in all of your abilities.
Joanna, Jenny and Ms. Moon — thank you so much for your endless support this year. You made the transition to Editor easier and less intimidating; qualities I hope to have mirrored to writers and other editors this year.
To every other editor, associate, contributing writer or anyone who has helped make the Argo run this year — thank you! My four years in the Argo has taught me the importance of surrounding yourself with supporting team members, and there is no absence of support and intent among any of you.
I will miss the Argo dearly, but I know it is in wonderful hands. Thank you for everything!
Z Colimon
Assistant A&E Editor
Argo has been essential to my highschool experience. I remember going to my first writer’s meeting, having no clue what was going on. Never would I have guessed that I would end up in an editorial position! It has been such a privilege to work for A&E, whether that be editing or writing about the arts, my ultimate passion.
I want to shout out the Argo alumni that gave me guidance, notably Eliza Duff-Wender, the editor I wrote under. I also want to thank Mary Bosch. She pushed me to stay with the Argo and really helped me with navigating the ropes of doing it with my other extracurriculars. I also want to shout out Joanna and Jenny for their amazing work this year as Editors in Chief! I absolutely adore their work ethic and ability to create such a safe and fun environment. Their guidance was essential to my becoming a better leader. To my co-editors, Alice, Penny, and Lena, thank you for being so consistently reliable and hard-working. You all are such lovely individuals and I am eternally grateful to have spent the year working alongside you. Finally, I want to shout out my Corner buddy, Parker. The Corner was tremendously fun to write and I was honored to get outreach to the student body with it.
To future Argonauts, don’t forget why you signed up for Argo! Sometimes the deadlines and processes can be stressful, but the reward of writing a great article is like no other. The ways that journalism teaches you not only about current events, but humanity itself…that is something to never take for granted. And so, if you’re ever discouraged, think about the end product. The network of communication that you are adding to. It makes the process all the more worth it 🙂
Cheers, and thank you Argo!! XOXO,
Z
Vera Jacobson
Assistant Sports Editor
Having only joined the Argo in sophomore year, while the time itself has raced by, the people I have met and their infectious passion for writing is something that I know will stay with me. I had always been quick to build a community on sports teams, but after being interviewed for an article about the volleyball season, my interest in the Argo spiked.
While writing for the sports section, I was overjoyed to bring a spotlight to the athletes and their hard work. By providing recognition and celebration to teams, especially those that might fly under the radar within the rest of the school, I felt I was making a tangible difference to promote a sense of camaraderie and connection.
Finally, in my last year as an editor who had power to help determine the direction of the sports section, I got the chance to learn the responsibilities of upholding journalistic integrity and quality writing. I had a voice not just within my section, but within the entire newspaper, and I stepped up throughout the year to ensure our paper remained the best it could be.
Thank you to Maddie, Lauren and Romy, Sports editors of 2022-2023, for being great leaders and amazing examples.
Thank you to the EiCs, Jenny and Joanna, for the colossal amount of work it takes to run and manage this paper.
And of course thank you to Jessica, Caitlin and Rachel for being the best teammates a sports editor could ask for. From creating punny headlines to strategizing how to match up the articles and the writers, it truly is the people that make the place — and in our case, the last four pages of the paper.
Thank you to all of the other members of the editorial board, it is infectious being surrounded by such driven and hard working people.
And to the future of the section — Liam, Juliet, Rachel and Dimitra — I hope you take it to a whole new level, I know you will do an amazing job, keep the section thriving.
The Argo has taught me numerous lessons and provided me with countless memories. It is such a unique aspect of BLS as the threadline between so many different sectors of the school. Taking advantage of everything the Argo has to offer was one of my best decisions at BLS. To anyone considering joining, it is 100 percent worth it, — especially the sports section <3
Thank you to all who made these years what they were!
Vera
Jessica Li
Sports Editor
When I first joined the Argo in sophomore year, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It was one of the first clubs I’d joined, and I was nervous about writing articles and meeting new people. Little did I know, writing for the Argo was more fun and easier than I had imagined.
While writing, I also expanded my own knowledge about various sports and became more in-tune with groundbreaking sports news. As a sports editor, I have so many great memories from Production Weeks. Some highlights include when we played the Meow Mix for ten minutes on repeat as a psychology experiment until finally one of the editors couldn’t take it anymore and begged us to turn it off and when we ordered too many Insomnia Cookies and I took extra ones home.
Sports was also one of the fastest growing sections this year, and it would not have been possible without the work of so many people.
To Joanna and Jenny: thank you for dealing with my never-ending litany of questions and for all the text reminders. You’ve made so many improvements to the Argo, and it is easy to see how passionate you both are about journalism.
To Vera, thank you for being an amazing editor and friend to work with. I will never forget that one afternoon where we spent ONE HOUR editing the same article together — it was truly a bonding experience. Argo wouldn’t have been half as fun without you, and I’ll miss editing and doing other miscellaneous Argo activities during math seminar (oops).
To Caitlin, I appreciate you so much for all the article ideas you’ve contributed to every issue. You somehow know almost everything about sports at BLS, and I know I can always count on you for an extra article idea and for finding potential interviewees. Despite balancing so much sports and schoolwork, you always make time for the Argo, which I appreciate very much.
And to Rachel, thank you for your speedy responses to my texts and for never failing to take care of something when I ask. You’re truly an amazing writer and an even better editor — I am confident that you’ll help our new editors for the next year transition smoothly.
To next year’s new sports editors, Juliet, Liam, and Dimitra, I have so much faith in you; I’ve watched you all develop into skilled writers throughout the years, and I know you will be amazing editors. Your vision for sports and confidence in your own abilities is inspiring, and I can’t wait to see the direction you take sports in!
I am constantly amazed by the creativity and eagerness that younger and new writers bring to the sports section, and I am so excited for the future of the Sports section!
Caitlin McDonough
Assistant Sports Editor
During the summer of my sophomore year going into junior year, I had an epiphany moment of wanting to be a sports journalist after attending the Women’s Euros 2022. Being a two sport athlete, I never thought I would be able to add another extracurricular to my plate, but I was wrong.
I joined the Argo in the fall of my junior year and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Oftentimes in English class, I struggled to write complex pieces, however The Argo was able to teach me invaluable journalism skills, while meeting great people along the way too. My favorite memory was the first time I showed up for a writing workshop. Immediately walking in, I felt a certain vibe from the sports section and everything just clicked.
It feels like yesterday I wrote my first article, struggling to develop thought provoking interview questions or wondering whether or not my lede was interesting. Through months of learning the ins and outs, I can confidently say I no longer struggle with the word count, in fact I often exceed the word count. Flash forward months later, I would be named Assistant Sports Editor, an honor for me and my family.
I cannot thank Lauren, Maddie and Romy for giving me the chance to write for the Sports section and for being fantastic role models that I looked up to. I cannot thank Jessica and Vera enough for being the best group of editors to work with. I cannot thank enough the EiCs, Jenny and Joanna, for being so patient. All of us Sports Editors greatly appreciate your hard work to make the Argo the best newspaper in all of Boston.
To all of the other editors, Layout and Copy staff, you all are amazing people who have an incredible taste in music too. From the rush of carnations to the joy of finalizing PDF edits, it has been an incredible ride.
Although it’s time to put a final period on this chapter, I know The Argo will continue to thrive. Good luck to Liam, Juliet, Rachel, and Dimitra. You all are going to do great things next year. Can’t wait to continue reading your amazing work!
Love, Caitlin
Fiona Yuan
Copy Editor
I never thought the day would come when Argo would forcefully remove me from my three-year tenure as Head Copy Editor. My unruly, perhaps unsettling young passion for copy editing might have dulled over time, but the leadership and maturity I gained from the Argo is something I will forever be grateful for.
Working with the Argo has been a pillar in my years at Boston Latin School. If I can bear Room 016, office work can never get the best of me. My love for journalism and writing only grew with the Argo, which on that note to any aspiring Argonauts: the Argo is the perfect outlet to geek out about everything writing and Production. I’m grateful to have had my quirks validated among such a profound group of straight up nerds and regrettably, Taylor Swift fans.
If Copy is my main home at the Argo, Forum is my origin story. Switching over from News to Forum after writing my first article about teacher spotlights (which embarrassingly, Ms. Heflinger’s name would be misspelled in multiple ways and eventually printed on paper), I would challenge myself to write op-eds for issues that I had little knowledge in, if it’s even a side I agreed with. Measly eighth-grade me always dreamed of effectively forming opinions and keeping firm with a stance. Now as a graduating senior, I can say I’ve fulfilled that criteria and am much more comfortable voicing my (or others’) opinions through journalism. I’m sure eighth-grade me would be incredibly proud. Because of that, Forum will always have a special place in my heart.
Now, Copy! I had so much fun being your local Copy Editor. Copy editing, out of surprise, never got boring. The rules are ever so changing, and it’s great that I had a say in what could completely change the way Argo approached a certain grammatical problem. I have a myriad number of people I have to thank — this journey would not have been possible without the many people who have guided and believed in me.
To Alice and Cindy, although you apologized for your messy leadership when I was a timid assistant editor those many years ago, quite frankly, I never noticed. As a naive and inspired freshman during the pandemic, you would lay down the foundations of the long years that would follow me in Copy. Every year I always aspire to not disappoint, if not, be better than what I was provided with.
Darren and Justine: working with you two for two short years (!) has taught me so much about teamwork and balance, and to this day I continue to live up to certain attributes from you that still stick with me. Darren, I will always respect your diligence and perfectionist-like drive toward your work, and Justine, I still find myself reflecting on our silly conversations and your wisdom toward anything life-related. Copy truly hasn’t been the same without you two, but it’s okay, because we still carry that potential to be greater than ever. I truly hope things have been going well in your first years in college.
Lindsey, Haley and Vicky: thanks for bearing with my messy leadership this year (oh, the generational guilt)! I loved getting to know each of you, both within Argo and outside of it. Thank you for the late-night edits and for accompanying me in hellish Copy weeks, when it seemed like nothing could get finished, yet somehow it came together in the end. Lindsey and Haley, we’ll be off to college! I wish the best as you embark on your journeys beyond BLS and the Argo. Vicky, I can’t wait to see you grow as a leader, and it’s been a pleasure to watch you grow as a Copy Editor this year! Andrew and Meilin, I have no doubts that alongside Vicky, you will live up to our Copy legacy. Please reach out if you ever have questions!
To the current EiCs, Joanna and Jenny, I am sorry for delegating certain crucial tasks when I was busy this year, and thank you for caring for this section when we fell short. Elizabeth and Selina, I miss you lots! Thank you for listening to me yap about everything including Copy, and for being so supportive with whatever copy-editing curveballs I throw.
To the rest of Argo, thank you for worshiping and believing in our Copy Bible, even if you might not totally agree with our deep hatred for and vendetta against oxford commas. I will most definitely miss those who got their articles in time for Production week, and likewise, I will NOT miss those who didn’t! I am joking… I promise. Those who I wasn’t able to mention by name, it was such a pleasure to have known and worked with you at the Argo.
That’s it! It really is my time to go. Thank you for letting me, and us, be your favorite grammar police.
Signing off,
Fiona
Lindsey Jiang
Copy Editor
Although I will forever continue to use Oxford commas in my own writing, I am glad to give them up this one time.
I remember my first glimpse of the Argo, back in eighth grade: I went to a Photo workshop where some seniors taught us how to edit photos into black and white, but I was so intimidated by them, I decided I was never going back. I was wrong, the next year I did go back, despite being mid-pandemic. I vividly remember never taking a single photo, but instead, looking up pictures of Tom Brady to edit. I still felt disconnected though, failing to understand the point (sorry, Photo). So the next year in-person, I decided to try again with something new: Copy. That’s when Argo finally clicked for me. I’d always been a bit of a perfectionist, so copy-editing was perfect. All the little grammar details scratched an itch for me. And while I have thoroughly enjoyed all the work I have done, throughout my time in the Argo, the most important part has been the community.
First, to Fiona, thank you for being Copy’s backbone and being there when I couldn’t, especially this past year. I genuinely don’t know what I would’ve done without you. When I think of Copy, I think of you.
To Haley, I wish I could’ve worked with you more this year. To the next four!
To Vicky, Andrew and Meilin, I know you guys are going to continue to do amazing work and I’m so proud of all of you.
To Michelle and Hannah, congratulations! You guys are headed for great things and your hard work will pay off. And sorry for finishing this so late.
And to all the young readers out there, especially if you don’t like writing but want to be part of something amazing, join Copy! It’s worth it I promise.
I cannot believe these years have gone by so quickly. I am so grateful for everything I’ve learned and experienced here. I’m truly going to miss it all (especially the Insomnia cookies, yum).
Best of luck to everyone!
Lindsey <3
Haley Do
Assistant Copy Editor
And just like that, my six years at BLS are over. It didn’t hit me that I was going to be leaving until the underclassmen I call friends cried on my shoulders, telling me that they were going to miss me. There’s not going to be another year of saving the summer reading for the last two days before school starts, there’s not going to be another round of schedule releases, and this year, I will be one of the students screaming the “it’s all over chant” on the seniors’ last day of school. I’ve been telling everyone how I’m so excited to leave this life-draining “prison,” but I guess a little part of me is going to miss these overcrowded halls, crumbling ceilings and the friends I made on the way.
I joined the Argo in the fall of sophomore year after the EC fair, partially because I wanted to have more extracurriculars, but mostly because my friends said that they would join with me (they did not). I didn’t feel like my writing was good enough to write articles, and to be quite frank, I didn’t really want to put myself out there. With only a few more sections to choose from, I decided to give Copy a try, and I’m so glad I did.
Let me start with my very unbiased, super objective, totally not-hot (very cold) take: COPY IS THE BEST! Now that that’s over, it’s time to propagandize and not-so-politically socialize the youth on why this section’s the best. First and foremost, you get to snoop at all the articles before release. I cannot tell you how many times where I’ve just loitered on docs that I wasn’t even editing myself (shout out to writers lmao?). Also if you don’t like writing, but still want to improve your writing, this is the section for you. Proofreading writing is a vital skill, wherever you go, so if you kinda suck at writing, hey at least you’re a master proofreader now!
I am also very fortunate that I worked with such a great team of Copy Editors this year. Lindsey, thanks for listening to my non-stop complaining about nonsense and making me enjoy Production weeks by getting off track (oops…). Fiona, thanks for always making sure that we stay on task, being so down to earth, answering all my dumb questions and giving me the confidence to step up as an Assistant Copy Editor. I will miss hanging out with you whether it be in 016, Ms. Shipley’s closet or on the master spreadsheet at 2:00 A.M. Vicky, I will never not be amused by the way we make eye contact with each other when presented with a question that only Fiona would know the answer to. Thanks for holding up the fort while the seniors skedaddle to our next adventures. You are a very brave soul (salute).
Although I have such a strong bias towards Copy, credit is due where it’s due. Thank you to whoever put an ungodly amount of Laufey onto the Argo playlist. And to the rest of the Argo members, thank you for the incredible work that you all put into each issue. Without everyone’s contribution, the Argo wouldn’t be what it is now. I’ll forever cherish the memories I have in the dungeon of 016 — insomnia cookies at 4:00 P.M., begging writers’ sections for articles, etc.
Writing this as my very first and last piece for the Argo has forced me to look back at my journey here. For the last few years, I’ve been so focused on my future that I’ve neglected to appreciate the little moments in my present. Thank you to everyone who contributed to my experience here at BLS and made this ride enjoyable (and for those who made it a living hell, thanks for giving me something to yap about in the group chat).
Signing off,
Haley Do <3
Lily Hyunh
Layout Editor
I don’t think it’d be right for me to begin this farewell without confessing my biggest secret I’ve kept for the last three years, so here it is: I never wanted to be in Layout.
It was fall of tenth grade and I was at the advanced workshop for the production sections, fully set on joining Photo with Andrew. I was listening to the then-photo editors introduce the basics of using a camera when I spotted my school crush sitting on the other side of the room with Layout. Obviously, fifteen-year-old me thought the best thing to do in that situation was to pick up all my stuff and tell Andrew I wanted to do Layout instead. I went to sit with Mari and our friend Angie to watch the Layout presentation, telling them I changed my mind and wanted to be with them (sorry I lied guys, I didn’t actually choose Layout because of you).
Although I didn’t join Layout for the right reasons, I’m glad it’s where I ended up in the end, even if it doesn’t always feel like it. I’ll admit, there have been many sleepless nights and tears shed during production weeks and over PDF edits, but there was also a lot of laughter shared when the 10:00 P.M. delusion hit during final Fridays or throughout the entirety of the carnation process. We suffered, but we suffered together. I owe a lot to the Argo for teaching me the importance of double-checking everything, surrounding me with a community of friends passionate about journalism and helping me to realize the futility of the Oxford comma.
To Aidan, I wish this could be the end of our journey together, but unfortunately, you’re following me for another four years… There has been a lot of misdirected (and rightfully directed) anger towards you, but thank you for still being my friend after all the punches you’ve taken. You always bring the energy and “Beautiful Girls” every production week, even if you disappear half the time to play basketball in the Lower Gym. You may be ecstatic that our newspaper and powerlifting endeavors are ending, but I’ll miss all of it. Let’s take over the Massachusetts Daily Collegian together next fall?
To Mari, my longest friend, shoutout for being one of the few Argo-Crew survivors… And thank you for carrying all the Argo anger so no one else had to. I would not have gotten through the last three years, or even the last 14, without you. You are truly one of the most passionate, outspoken people, and I know you’d always have my back. Whenever we don’t get the recognition we deserve, you’re always the one speaking up and advocating for us in every group chat and in person meeting. Maybe you should’ve written for Forum. This is not a goodbye, I will be seeing you for plenty of beach days.
To Sophia, my official unofficial head editor. I cannot thank you enough for all the hard work you’ve done this year. I know you probably went into this year excited to work under the leadership and guidance of three upperclassmen, when in reality, you slowly took on more responsibilities than the aforementioned editors. Layout would’ve crumbled if we didn’t have you to step up for us during the last two issues. It’s been a pleasure to work with you for the last year and we’re always a text away if you need any help, even if all our Macbooks broke.
To Ashley, Alan and Sam, you were all chosen for a reason! Please be kind to Sophia and take up any extra work you can do, she’s lived three years of Layout experience in one year. I know that together, the four of you will leave your mark on Layout.
To Parker and Joanna, my Head Cruciverbalists, it’s been an honor toiling over the crosswords every month with you guys. I’ll miss our early morning café dates, the laughs shared over absurd clues and pushing the boundaries of what words can be put in our puzzles. I hope next year’s Cruciverbalists can be at least half as funny as us.
To Photo,
To Jenny, my Layout queen. I actually would not have survived without you. You were doing so much Layout after becoming EiC that you might as well have just stayed as a head editor with me. Thank you for always helping with any question we ever had and for lending an ear to my frustrations. I’ll miss every venting session during Asian Studies and late night texts when we’re scrambling to export and no one else is awake. Please relax more next year, you deserve it.
To Joanna, the JOML, I love you. I love how you can’t hold in any of your laughs and I love the dedication and care you put into anything you do. You truly deserve the world and I’ll be cheering you on everywhere you go. One of the reasons I owe so much to the Argo is because I wouldn’t know you otherwise. You recognize everyone’s hard work and make them feel seen, and I hope everyone who doesn’t have the chance to meet you will have someone in their life like you. I can’t wait to spend the summer traversing New York (again) and hiking through Maine, and the rest of eternity with you.
To Ms. Moon (AKA the best ELA9/AP Lit/Argo advisor combo), admittedly, I’ve been a little terrified of you ever since ninth grade English. AP Lit, however, has by far been one of my favorite classes and I’m so grateful to have had you as a teacher beginning and ending high school. You’ve helped me to develop so much as a student and as a person. Keep in touch! B)
To Hannah and Michelle, you both are such driven, inspiring people and I’m happy to have worked under you for those three days I helped during the Graduation Issue production week. You two are going to change the Argo for the better!
To the rest of every Argo Board I’ve worked with, past and present, although I did not have the pleasure to get to know all of you personally, each one of you have brought so much to this paper and I’m proud to be part of “the Argo cult.”
To quote one of the greats: Slayout. Peace out,
Lily
Aidan Tran
Layout Editor
You know who it is: the goat of all goats. But this time this isn’t about me; instead it’s about the people who made me, me. Thinking back I was just a sixie sitting in the corner of 016. Although I was coerced by my older sister to join the Argo, I would not be the person I am today without it. Shouts out to my big sis: you the real goat.
First and foremost, I would like to shout out my section, the best section, the backbone of the Argo: Layout. Not going to lie, I had my moments of weakness, but you guys never failed to support me and the sections as a whole, and I hope that at times I was able to do that for you guys.
To Lily, I really mess with you heavily, that’s about it xD.
Mari, you cool too I guess.
Sophia, thanks for sticking with us for the one year we had the pleasure of working together. You are capable of everything you put your mind to and so I retire from the section knowing that its future is bright.
Sam, Ashley and Alan, I’m not going to lie: y’all will go through it. Layout will work you through the long nights and many edits, but it is when we are at our lowest where the most beautiful bonds grow. Trust me when I say that you guys will one day be truly proud to call these people your friends just as my section was for me.
Jenny, isn’t it crazy how I was the one to teach you about layout. So technically we can chop it up to: Aidan taught Jenny, so when Jenny was teaching layout, it was really Aidan xD. Anyways, Jenny, you are truly one of the most dedicated and hardworking leaders, teachers and friends I know. Layout definitely would not have survived without you. I was always expecting your promotion to EiC, and I will be manifesting and celebrating your success.
Alright, for real this time, Lily, thank you. Thank you for all the copious amounts of work you did. Thank you for putting up with me and all the mistakes and all the dumb things I did. Thank you for spreading happiness with your contagious smile and your snorting laughter. When we say Layout is the backbone of the Argo we fail to mention that you’re the backbone of Layout. Although I would love for this to be where our journey ends, you had to trail after me to University of Massachusetts Amherst. But for real, I am very grateful to be entering college with one of my best friends, and I am so very excited for all the stories we are going to be able to tell.
What’s good Mari. Thanks for being my fellow assistant editor until your boy got that big promo B). The kindness and empathy you exude is something I will never forget, not to undermine all the work you did. Your jokes and snarky comments breathed life into every Production Week. Anytime I had something to talk about you were there willing to listen and I really appreciate that. Unlike Lily, you didn’t copy my flow, so I am excited to see everything you achieve and we will be celebrating your success from Amherst. You will be missed very much, but it will just make our reunion that much better when we come around for break.
Special shout outs to Kevin, Ms. Moon and EiCs past and present.
There have been times where I had mixed feelings about the Argo but looking back on it I wouldn’t change a thing.
To everyone in the Argo: thank you for everything.
Aidan
Mari Baker
Assistant Layout Editor
At the beginning of sophomore year, I made the random decision to join the Argo. Little did I know, that would be one of the most important decisions I would make in high school. I chose to join Layout because I wanted to do graphic design, and eventually I was promoted to a position on the editorial board.
Throughout my two years as an assistant editor for Layout, I have learned so much about teamwork, patience and persevering even when everything seems to be going wrong. I have so many memories in the Argo room, and although we were at school past 9:00 PM on countless Friday nights, those are experiences that I would not trade for a thing. I have formed some of my closest, most valuable friendships in 016, and I am so excited to see where all of my friends end up as we all pursue different paths in the future.
Lily, thank you for being both my rock and Layout’s rock! You have carried this section for the past year, and truly nobody can do it like you. Thank you for joining Layout with me in tenth grade, and being there for me as we both were brought to tears under the crippling stress of high school combined with late night Final Fridays. It means so much to me that you’ve not only tolerated my temper, but matched my energy for the 14 years that we’ve been friends. There is seriously nobody else I would have rather done this with.
Aidan, I know you won’t believe me when I say this, but I am truly grateful for you being a Layout editor. I hope that everyone you encounter in Amherst lets you take aux so you can keep questionably dancing to your questionable songs!
Sophia, I’m so proud of all the work that you have done throughout your Argo career, and I know that Layout is in good hands with you. If you ever need help with anything at all, I am always here for you!
And to next year’s Layout board, Sophia, Alan and Ashley, I am so sorry for breaking my Macbook (twice), and introducing a broken Mac curse to all the Co ‘24 editors. I pray that you all are exempt from my curse and have a lovely time with InDesign! We will always be happy to help! 🙂
Joanna and Jenny, thank you for being such amazing EiCs. You two are the most passionate and driven people I know, and it has been an honor to witness the ways that you guys have enhanced the Argo and inspired all of your peers.
Michelle and Hannah, I am so proud of you! Hannah, anybody who talks to you can get an immediate sense of your passion and good energy. I have never had an uninteresting conversation with you and I don’t think it is even possible. Michelle, I am so glad that we have gotten closer over the past year. You are such a diligent and kind person, and I can’t wait to see what you two accomplish throughout the next year.
I’m sad my time with the Argo has come to an end, but so grateful for all of the amazing friends I made and lessons I have learned. Thank you for everything!
Andrew Lay
Photo Editor
My Argo career began back in eighth grade, at the behest of the Argo’s bossiest and most annoying editor who just so happened to be my cousin, Regina Chiem. I remember being overwhelmed by Anthony and Jess as they earnestly tried to explain how Photoshop worked to me, and how my inexperience accidentally led to the birth of the most horribly edited photo of a duck in black and white with inverted colors… oops. It was so embarrassing that I was unable to show my face for the rest of eighth grade and didn’t return to the Argo until my freshman year before eventually becoming the beloved editor that we all know and love today. Nevertheless, if you had told eighth grade me that the Argo, the club where I almost peed my pants in the legendary presence of Jess Schnitzer, would become my favorite club of all time where I would find my second family, I would have never believed you. Yet here I am now, and I am so happy for the experiences that I had within the trenches of 207 and 016 and all of the memories and connections that I’ve made over the last four (five?) years. As such, I would like to formally pull what some may call an “Elizabeth Choi” and reflect on all of the wonderful people that have helped shape my experience with the Argo.
First up is News! To Kevin, thank you for being my friend since the fourth grade, and for being the rock of the News section. I’ll always cherish my time in the News Google Classroom, the many Ward events that I totally helped contribute to and the long-standing chain Ayana’s that we helped found all those years ago. And to Ailin, you are honestly the picture-perfect definition of an editor. You may be News, but your graphics skills are top-tier, and I hope you continue to find success whether it be through the Argo, BYSO or the best list of book recommendations that I’ve ever seen anyone conjure up.
Next on the roster is Forum! First, I’d like to thank Cinly for always keeping me on my toes and always defying my expectations, for better and for worse! I swear I’ll never make you trek up Corey Hill again (although the flicks were sooo worth it), but we’re definitely having many Bartaco dates in our future. And to Jessie, I’m going to miss you for the next four years, even if we’re just one river apart. Consider this my seminar speech! We’ve been through thick and thin together — from the Algebra I test that you got a zero on for doing the wrong problems, the endless rounds of Among Us that hounded our freshman year and the day where we all decided that you looked like a Lickitung. While you may not be with me physically anymore, I promise you that my ears have been permanently damaged from your piccolo, and I’ll never forget the outline of your funeral dress, the many seminar discussions we had or the wide-eyed stare of your blue-dressed headshot which is emblazoned into my mind for all of eternity. And finally, to Mark, I’ll always remember you as the really tall kid from karate in JP who never had a frown on his face. The future of Forum is bright with you, and it’s no question that you’re going to kill it both next year and beyond. And while Mannah may be the new EiCs, they will always be my Forum babies at heart. Good luck leading the Argo next year! [especially with Michelle in her Challengers era right now ;)].
Next is A&E, or as some of us may call it, (ph)Arts and Entertainment! Eliza, you were the only reason I made it through online Geometry class, and someone I could always confide in during Production weeks, as well as someone I could always split my Insomnia cookies with. Z, you are honestly the coolest person I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. I truly believe that there is not a single miss within your closet, and your artistic abilities in theater, singing and even journalistic writing are all profoundly amazing and inspirational. Penny, I’m happy that we got to know each other this year! Thank you so much for always being the first to respond to my pleas for photo descriptions and expect many visits at UCLA. Finally, to Lena, you’re welcome for the prom date. It’s been a crazy ride together throughout this year, especially in a certain black Lexus. In all seriousness, while your transition from News to A&E may have been rather abrupt, I think that you’ve found a new writing section to call home, and I’m sure that you’ll spearhead the success of your section next year! Just please remember to keep those photo descriptions updated for future Photo’s sanity. And more importantly, I’m ecstatic that you’re staying as *just* an A&E editor, and that we all learned from the last time someone tried to lead A.S.I.A. and Argo at the same time. <3
Last but not least of the writing sections is Sports! Romy, it’s been a difficult year without my double reed twin or without our debriefs in the corner of Production week, but I persevered somehow. And to Jessica, I’ll always look back fondly on our study dates at the SEC, and I swear one day I’ll get Sage to love me. While your tenure as an editor has been brief, I loved coming up with Sports headlines together, and I’ll always be around if you need a quick headshot! Expect some vile valedictorian speech candids.
Up next is the unsung section of the Argo, Copy! To Fiona, thank you for always being around to answer my questions, both related and unrelated to Argo, no matter what ungodly hour of the day it is. And to Lindsey, my birthday twin, I can always count on you for Copy advice and caption formatting. Even if you were the one that dragged me into the hells of both K-pop and Genshin Impact, I’ll always treasure the past six years that we spent together.
Next is the worst section of all time, but one that the Argo unfortunately needs: Layout. To Aidan, you are the textbook definition of a bro, and I mean that in the best way possible. Thank you for always being approachable, and I’ll miss our hallway chair-racing antics whenever the EiCs weren’t watching. To Lily, I don’t know how I’m going to get through the next four years without you. I’m sure I’ll always be a nagging voice in the back of your head, whether it be a snarky comment or a lingering remnant of insanity from you yelling “Caption needs a character cut!” for the thousandth time of the week. And to Mari, thank you for being the heart and soul of the Layout section and of my experience at Boston Latin for the last five years. Our Final Friday dinners together might be the closest thing to pure happiness that I’ve ever felt within the cursed walls of this building. To paraphrase and misquote a certain star swimmer with a Victorian-era government name, “We love Mari Baker when we are on our grind. And we are never off that grind.”
I’ll save the best section for last, so I’ll dedicate this section to my lovely EiCs, both Selizabina and Joe. To Selina, you can trust that I’ll always be around to take the most divine candids of you, and I’ll always be there to steal your chair. You helped me write the only non-captions that I’ve written for this paper, namely a good portion of your editor’s notes and have always been like my second Argo big-sister. To Liz, the girl that gaslit Fearless into my top three Taylor albums, even if our parasocial spreadsheet is basically dead, our friendship is anything but. While I’m still not sure how exactly your brain works, you can bet that I’ll always be reading your Crimson articles, and that I’ll always be there to vigilantly support your violently undecided undergraduate career. After all, as self-proclaimed birds of a feather, we ought to stick together! To Jenny, I can’t wait for the next four years together. You really deserve a stipend for babysitting all of the new Layout editors last year, and I hope to see you in orchestra and The Daily Free Press next year! And finally, to Joanna Lin. From Hamilton karaoke to intense Just Dance sessions and rounds of Super Smash Brothers that never ended well for you, there are no words to describe the influence that you have had on both the Argo and on all of our experiences with the paper. Can’t wait to see what you do as our resident singer/hornist/writer/engineer/mathematician/literally whatever you want to be! Hopefully your future is filled with less graphics though. For Photo and Layout’s sanity.
And last but not least, the section that I’ve called home for these past years, Photo. To Mary, you are the Argo mother, and your impact as both an editor, staff writer and killer ballroom dancer will not be forgotten anytime soon. To Alex (Strand), we may have been some of the most unproductive assistant editors ever, but I’m sure that the Argo may have imploded with monotony if it weren’t for our antics. To Karen, I’m so happy to have known you for the past eight years, and although I’ll never understand what you could possibly love with Latin, I know that I can always count on you for advice, and I’ll keep streaming our AP Calculus BC song in the background forever. Parker, you were always there whenever I needed a good laugh or a bombastic side eye, and I could always count on you to keep the wildest associates in check. To Alicia Moy, you have been such a reliable partner to be a co-editor with, and I don’t know what Photo would’ve been without you this year. Here’s to more Vivis runs in our future! To Alex (Le), you are already BLS’s star photographer, and I know the future of Photo is safe in your hands. To Ben, it’s been a pleasure to watch you grow as a photographer, and I can only hope that your farewell next year will be dramatically shorter than mine. To Lauren, I’m so sorry that you had to deal with three seniors this year, but you did an amazing job, and I know you’ll continue to do great things in the future. To Regina, I hate you for dragging me into this mess, but thank you for granting me the opportunity to discover a second family within this newspaper. And finally, to an incoming sixie and Class of 2030 member (gross), Alicia (Lay), because you are family, I am holding a higher standard to follow in my footsteps. Just kidding! I wanted to plagiarize what Regina said about me. But in all seriousness, you better join the Argo next year as both an aspiring photographer and as the final nepo baby of this Argo generation. </3
I have reached the second part of my “Elizabeth Choi” farewell, where I have become overcome with immense guilt over how grueling it was to thank each and every single person that helped me along my journalism journey. This is a formal apology to anyone who has to edit or layout this farewell. Thank you to all of the Argonauts, both aforementioned and unmentioned, that have made this newspaper one of my fondest experiences, and good luck to the future Argonauts! I know 016 will be way less dank without me, but I’m sure you’ll find a way to persevere :).
Signing off,
Andrew Lay
Alicia Moy
Photo Editor
I first “joined” the Argo when I put my name on the sign-up sheet during the extracurricular fair in sixie year. I would get emails from the Argo all throughout sixie year and eighth grade but it wasn’t until freshman year that I decided I would go to my first Photo meeting. I had nothing better to do with my time so why not take photos for the school newspaper through Zoom? Sounds sappy, but this was the best decision I have ever made. Ever since that day, I have found a community of amazing people and have made so many memories. From eating Cane’s with all the Argonauts during Final Fridays to counting and recounting carnation slips in 207, I have had the best time getting to know everyone in the Argo family.
Over the years, I have learned so much, not only from the photo section but from all the talented people around me. At Argo, I truly felt that I was learning something new every day and I am so grateful to all the associates and editors who have helped make Argo feel like a second family.
To Andrew: You are an OG. From freshman year Zoom Photo to senior year Photo, we have come a long way. Thank you for always getting food during Production week and coming on Vivi’s runs with me. We have been through a lot together and I am glad that we were able to make it to the end!
To Parker: Thank you for making Argo days so much more fun. From your little comments in our interview notes document to trying to teach our sixies how to use a camera, you never fail to make me laugh.
To Lauren: Thank you for keeping us seniors on track and pushing us through our senioritis. You are the kindest person I know and I am confident that you are going to do amazing things in the future.
To Ben and Alex: Thank you for being my yapping buddies during Production weeks and being the two associates with the best attendance. I am so glad I met you two this year and have had the best time getting to know you both. I am going to miss you guys but I am so excited to see what you two will do next!
To Joanna and Jenny: Thank you for being the best EiCs anyone could ask for. You guys have worked so hard and have made my experience in the Argo so fulfilling and I am so grateful for everything you two have done!
Finally, to all the Argonauts, thank you for all the laughs and fun memories made throughout these past few years. You all have made the Argo an unforgettable experience in the best way possible and I will miss you all very much!
Parker Hastings
Photo Editor
Being an Argonaut has been the best part of my Boston Latin School experience. I am so happy to have spent the last three years with such incredible people who all share a passion for journalism.
To the juniors and underclassmen, please continue to have fun with Argo. There is joy in everything that comes with this organization.
JOE! Y’all have been an absolute unit and it’s been an honor to work under you. Your dedication to the Argo has shone in every issue this year.
To my corner buddy Z, I loved every single Q&A sesh we did. Good grief were some of them worrisome, but it was a blast, as well as everything else we did for the Argo, LOL. Getting to watch movies and review them like we were critics was most definitely the most memorable thing ever.
Moving on, PHOTO! We did so well this year: From engagement to age range, there has been so much growth just from this year and I’m so proud of us. I know our section will only get better!
Dearest incoming Photo section: I am so saddened to leave you all but I know you’re going to do great things. Photo is continuing its crawl to be the best section, and you three are the best for the job. Alex, you’re a powerhouse, you’re everywhere all at once and your commitment to photography is unmatched. Lauren, I loved working with you this past year and I am so excited to see you grow. Ben, I’m so excited for your contributions to the Photo section; I have no doubt that you’ll succeed and make the section even better. Photo is in great hands with you all!
I love the Argo with every bone in my body; thanks for the best.
Parker Hastings