At the end of the 2024-25 school year, I grabbed an Expo marker and scrawled five words upon a sheet of white printing paper: “WRITE LIKE YOU MEAN IT.”  

I’m not sure what inspired me to create that sign. While I now assume it was subconsciously inspired by the famous “BELIEVE” sign from comedy-drama series Ted Lasso, this motto stuck with me for the entirety of my time as editor-in-chief of The Owl’s Hoot. The sign hangs above the doorway of our office. 

This school year was a Cinderella story, of which The Owl’s Hoot was elevated from a practically unknown publication to the top student news organization in the state of Tennessee. We expanded from print-only to a print-digital hybrid and won more than triple the number of individual awards this year than the past half decade. We visited workshops and brought in alumni and community speakers, topped off by an in-house visit with columnists and editors from The Daily Memphian. 

Furthermore, I was given the opportunity to represent Tennessee as the journalist of the year and compete nationally against future leaders and voices in journalism. The title of my portfolio was, in a full circle fashion, “Write Like You Mean It.” 

This journey was not an easy one, but one I am incredibly grateful to have led. At times I felt lost and directionless, yet up against the daunting challenge of reenvisioning this publication, I learned that I was never alone. This year took a village. 

I thank the administration and especially Mr. Zach Hansen for the incessant investment in this publication. From covering funding or organizing the Norman S. Thompson Fellowship to helping us digitize, this year would not have been possible without your investment. 

I thank the MUS Communications team – Ms. Liz Copeland, Mr. Jonah Jordan and Ms. Kaitlan Koehler – for hours of behind-the-scenes work aiding us in Adobe, alumni relations photography and everything in between.  

I thank past journalistic mentors – such as Wills Frazer ’25 and Mr. Norman Thompson – for their long-term service to The Owl’s Hoot. I hope this year honors you.  

Thank you, Mrs. Ginny McCarley, for stepping into a role you had never envisioned when you joined MUS. In only your second year of teaching here, you wrangled us novice journalists through to the finish line. This letter is far too short to adequately highlight your selflessness and commitment to the future of student journalism and our lives. Your leadership, advice and 6:00 a.m. editing sessions are admirable and appreciated! 

Finally, I thank the incredible group of guys I had the blessing of working with this year. Leading you all has been the highlight of my MUS experience. Your courageousness to try something new and embrace this change motivates me to be both a better writer and person. I am so excited to watch you all grow.