Oh My God, It’s Actually Happening

Love you Marist! xoxo, Emma. Photo by Ava Battinelli '26

For the past two years, I knew I would have to write this. I thought about it for so long, imagining how it would be perfect and wondering where I would be when it was time to write it. But now that the time has come, I have no idea what to say.

I wasn’t necessarily a “good” member of the Marist Circle when I first joined. I went to my first meeting with my new friend Hannah Tone ‘26, and I was absolutely terrified. I saw the editors sitting at the front of the room, who seemingly knew everything and were all friends, and I just thought to myself, “What am I doing here?”

I didn’t write anything my entire freshman year.

Sophomore year came, and I told myself I was going to write something at least once that semester. I had a year of college under my belt, I had a better sense of belonging at Marist and I was taking Intro to Journalism. Now that I knew what I was doing and had more friends, I felt ready.

The City/National section has had my heart since the beginning. My first article was about the national ADHD medication shortage at the time, and I interviewed a student who was being impacted by the shortage. When I saw the story in print, I was ecstatic. I had accomplished something. 

The City/National editor at the time, Mackenzie Boric ‘24, was amazing. One time I saw her at a Society for Professional Journalists (SPJ) meeting, and she remembered my name because of my article about the medication shortage. “It was really good,” she said. And that’s what kept me writing. 

At the end of the year, she encouraged me to apply to be the City/National editor for the 2024-25 school year. I didn’t think I had what it took, but I trusted her. Fast forward to today, and I’ve been a City/National editor for two years, and I’ve absolutely loved it. 

The Circle has been such an integral piece of my time at Marist. It has given me a sense of belonging, it has given me opportunities to cover both uplifting and more serious stories and it has given me the confidence I need to succeed in the journalism field. I was able to try new things, make mistakes and still know that it was going to be okay. This was the best learning opportunity I could have asked for.

I love the newspaper for how it’s helped me professionally, but I also love it because of everyone I’ve met. Ava Battinelli ‘26, Ben Leeds ‘26 and Cora Flynn ‘26 – you are some of the most passionate, caring and funny people I’ve ever met. Thank you for the support, for the laughs, for everything. I’m going to miss each of you so much, but I genuinely can’t wait to see where life takes you.

To my fellow senior editors – Hannah Tone ‘26, Ciara Molloy ‘26 and Eric Johnston ‘26 – this is the first year the Circle really felt like a family, and it’s because of you. With each office hour meeting, we got to know each other more and more, and I’m so happy we did. It was a privilege to work alongside you all, as well as Owen Whelan ‘27, Ava Verret ‘28 and Emily Klena ‘28. I know the Circle is in great hands.

Thank you, Hannah, for convincing me to come to the first Circle meeting our freshman year, even though I was too scared to write anything. Just taking that first step brought me to where I am today, and I’m so happy I took that step with you.

Thank you, Mackenzie, for trusting me to take over the City/National role and for all of your guidance. I still have the sticky note I used to write down everything you told me, and I still reference it two years later. 

To Professor Basinger, thank you so, so much. Thank you for believing in me when I was a timid sophomore who never spoke in class and was still unsure if I belonged here. You’ve pushed me out of my comfort zone countless times, and though I hated it at the moment, I wouldn’t be who I am without it. Thank you.