By Cecilia Fiorindo '21, President and Editor 2019-2021
When I first became part of the Chez Nous Times team in the beginning of 9th Grade in 2017, I was in awe of the possibility of sharing my voice with the entire school community. Seeing my words on the printed copies of our paper around the school filled me with pride, and reminded me of the importance of giving students a platform to share their stories, opinions and perspectives. I carried this conviction with me throughout my entire high school experience, particularly as I have had the honor to help develop and grow our beloved Chez Nous Times.
Just a few days from graduation, I have been reflecting on what has fueled me and the committed members of this paper to keep working hard, no matter how many people read our stories. Through all the challenges we have faced, particularly with the pandemic, we have never stopped writing, editing, sharing. Instead of being hindered by the darkness that has surrounded us for the past year and a half, we have persisted in fostering a platform for all of Chez Nous sisters. Especially in a time when we have been so isolated from one another, I find pride and joy in knowing that the stories we worked so assiduously to publish could have made some members of both our club and our community feel a bit less alone, and more connected with the world.
To me, that makes our work worth it.
Connection is the quintessential purpose of school newspapers, and it is what makes them timeless. As we have seen ourselves, the concept of a school paper is constantly evolving. For instance, transitioning to an online platform was crucial step for the survival of this club during our periods of hybrid learning, and it has also helped us reduce our ecological footprint. But even if the Chez Nous Times we have now looks much different from what our older Chez Nous sisters knew, the role it has had in our community has remained constant, despite all the challenges we have faced.
No matter what the future holds for school papers, and for our own Chez Nous Times, we must remember the importance of young voices. School newspapers provide students with a space to speak up about social issues, share their art, tell personal stories and, most importantly, develop confident voices. Especially at a time when the younger generations often feel frustrated and left out of conversations that concern their futures, we must all commit to creating safe and welcoming platforms where their perspectives are not just valued, but also prioritized and amplified. I wholeheartedly hope that the Chez Nous Times has done so, and that it will continue to do so for years to come.
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