Editor’s Note: This article was also published in the Benet Herald 2025 Graduation Edition.

Hello Everyone and congratulations to my fellow graduates from the Class of 2025!

We did it! It feels surreal to be writing this. After four years, countless deadlines, and more Google Docs than I can count, it’s time to say goodbye, not just to Benet Academy, but to the place that taught me how to find my voice.

Being part of the Benet Herald has shaped me in ways I never expected. When I first joined, I wasn’t looking to lead—I just loved writing. But what started as a quiet passion turned into one of the most defining parts of my high school experience. As Editor-in-Chief, I didn’t just edit articles, I learned the art of telling a story well, the meaning of carrying such a responsibility, thinking critically, and caring deeply about the work you put into the world.

There are people who made this journey possible, and I want to thank them.

To Ms. White and Mr. Doyle:

Thank you for pushing me to be sharper, clearer, and more confident with my words. You both taught me not just how to write, but how to find a voice worth listening to.

To Mrs. McGovern: 

I still remember how confused I felt diagramming sentences freshman year—and how patient you were through all of it. Thank you for your support, and for always believing in my growth, even before I believed in it myself.

To my parents: 

Thank you for encouraging me, reading my work, convincing me to get involved and reminding me to keep going even when it felt hard. Your support has meant everything.

To my classmates: 

Thank you for being so easy to write about, your achievements, hard work, and passions have made it a joy to report on.

To John: 

Thank you for being such a great co-editor. Your commitment never wavered. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to share this role with. It has been a pleasure running the Herald together.

To Caroline Maras: 

Thank you for setting the standard. Your leadership as last year’s Editor-in-Chief gave me something to look up to and something to build on.

I’m grateful to have followed in your footsteps.

To the Herald Staff, especially section editors, Valerie and MaryGrace: 

Thank you for trusting me, for bringing your creativity to every meeting, and for making this team something I’ll never forget. You are what makes this club feel so special. To those continuing the work—take pride in what you do. Every article you write matters.

And to next year’s editors: 

I know you’re going to do a great job. Lead with heart, write with purpose, and don’t forget how much your voice matters.

Next school year, I’m headed to Northeastern University to study International Business and Marketing. I’m excited to see where this next chapter takes me, but I know I’ll carry everything I learned at the Benet Herald with me. As I step away, I do so with gratitude. Gratitude for the stories we told, and the legacy we’ve helped to shape.

This isn’t just a goodbye to a publication-it’s a goodbye to the place where I became a writer, a leader, and, most of all, myself.

With all my heart,

Deniz Dogansoysal

Co-Editor-In-Chief, 2024-2025