Ever heard of the saying, life is what you make of it? JIS taught me to make it a movie. It seemed like I had been part of a long series, closed my eyes, opened them again, and suddenly, I was in the end credits. Back then, our freshmen faces—or foreheads—were highlighted with small boxes on Zoom. Today, we make memories with the people who might end up being our lifelong best friends, such as cheering with those treasured friends during CIL games and Naga Night. All of those memories are what made my high school a movie.

Advanced Journalism will remain highly memorable. I made lasting connections and learned so much about the power of collaborative effort. Furthermore, I also learned to be more communicative, persistent, and concise while working with this
wonderful Feedback team. I will forever be grateful to Mr. Hara who made every day bright with encouragement, a selection of
snacks, and a safe haven for all of us to return to during our breaks to reunite with the frequenters of the tent. I will always remember the specific corner I frequent, since that is where I get all I name all of my successful studying done.

Sometimes, I wish that I could turn my movie sci-fi turning back time. But that is not possible. So, the best advice I could give you as a JIS graduate is to be in the moment, always focus on creating memories, doing what you love, and say what you need to say to all of your friends because time is always ticking. It is valid to feel sentimental when days at JIS are reducing drastically, but do not think about how much you are going to miss everything and just focus on making memories and achieving milestones together with the people around you. So that you miss them that much more and have so much to look back upon. I will forever hold everything about JIS dear to my heart. To everyone who was part of my journey, thank you for all the laughter, tears, and lasting memories that will leave your heart smiling forever. Thank you for all the good, the bad, and the in-betweens.

Thank you Mr. Hara, the Feedback team, and the whole JIS community. For everything.

Kyra K

Staff Artist

Drawing for Feedback Magazine and taking the Art Director position has been a surreal, yet wonderful experience. I was shocked when my predecessor and friend informed me that a role was vacant for me to take in my senior year, even with their limited information regarding my merit. Though, thanks to that suggestion, I had the opportunity to receive commissions, develop ideas, try new formats and styles, assign artwork, manage and organize plans, and so much more. Every set of tasks and challenges I went through has given me the experience I expected to gain much later. It was the perfect opportunity to improve my skills and learn how things work for when I pursue similar university courses or career paths.

Unfortunately, I was only able to be part of the team for one year. While I am excited to see what the next director will do and how differently they may handle certain aspects, I am upset that I won’t be a part of it. Though, regardless of whether or not I believe I haven’t done enough for the magazine, I will cherish all the things I have learned and the amazing memories I have created with the team. I am very thankful that Mr. Hara, the editors, staff writers and artists, and guest writers and artists, aided and stuck with me throughout our journey of working for Feedback. Even with my constant messages and workaholic tendencies, they remained diligent and allowed me to do my part and work efficiently.

I will forever miss Mr. Hara and his spacious and cozy sanctuary posing as a classroom. I hope he knows that every one of us considers it a haven filled with warmth and joy, and not an easy place to abandon as we run to our next block. His support, kindness, guidance, and diligence are the reason as to why the team is so close-knit and passionate about doing the best we can.

My fellow editors have also been very hardworking and have been an amazing help, as I was busy navigating the role of director. All of them, along with the staff writers have created amazing pieces, and I know that even with Cahaya, Katie, Kyra, and I graduating, they will continue to produce amazing articles and artwork for the magazine. I believe that the new team can fill the roles we leave behind and continue strong for the years to come. I am very thankful for this amazing journey and will truly miss everyone.

Devyani C. 

Art Director

I first joined Feedback in my sophomore year. In my junior year, I became its Editor-in-Chief. And right up until the end of that very year, I was still questioning whether I should stay at the magazine or depart altogether.

Being part of Feedback required me to grow. I needed to understand that I wasn’t a veteran writer who could aid newcomers, but a leader to guide my team members. I needed to learn how to delegate responsibilities among my fellow editors, not to be left scrutinizing every detail on my own. I needed to learn how to quickly answer emails, maneuver the world of InDesign, communicate criticism on well-written pieces, and confidently lead a team when I didn’t fully have confidence in myself.

I can’t say that there was a set “turning point” at which I truly understood what it meant to be a leader. I think my tenure as Editor-in-Chief can be best represented by the development of my first-ever Page 2 note, published in the October Issue of Volume 33. “The highs and lows of high school,” I remember writing. I had run the phrase by Mr. Hara, who then asked me to think about the “regular days” of high school: the days in which nothing seemed particularly exciting or burdensome. Like a steady stream of water, I remember thinking. Not choppy, nor eerily tranquil; simply flowing.

I’m going to miss the steady streams of Feedback. Hearing the chatter during peer editing, seeing writers referring to old writings for new articles, and holding in my laughter as nobody dares take the first plate during class parties. Feedback has given me a sense of belonging and leadership, one that I will be chasing all throughout university.

So, thank you, Putri and Yanne, for making Advanced Journalism my favorite seventy minutes of the day. Thank you, my fellow writers and editors, for making my tenure outrageously enjoyable and worth fighting for. And thank you, Mr. Hara, for teaching me how to become the leader and person I never thought I could be.

Lastly, thank you to the upcoming family of writers and editors for the 2024-2025 school year. You give me confidence that the legacy of Feedback will remain intact.

Cahaya R. 

Editor-in-Chief

Three years ago, after somehow learning to decipher Mr. Hara’s seemingly cryptic cursive during creative writing class, I joined Feedback as the In-Depth Editor. Although the severe COVID-19 pandemic forced us into online classes, the strong sense of dedication across the entire team propelled us forward, leading to remarkable results. Even today, my respect and appreciation for our collective accomplishments continue to grow.

Cahaya, our team leader and Editor-in-Chief, consistently brought out the best in us. Her approach combined kindness, patience, and inclusivity, setting a tone that encouraged everyone to excel. My friend and talented artist, Kyra, created drawings so sweet and full of life that they brought warmth to every issue we published. Brooke, while taller and imposing in stature, brought a vibrant and endearing quality to her work as our Layout Manager. Kendra, with her intelligence and wit as the Media Manager, infused every meeting with humor and energy, making the tough days a little lighter.

Achieving the Gold Medal from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association with our compact but exceptional team was a point of pride that filled me with immense joy. It wasn’t just an award; it was a validation of our hard work and the innovative spirit we maintained throughout challenging times.

This past year, our Art Director Devyani, known for her cool demeanor and efficiency, along with a group of talented new writers, continued to push the magazine’s creative boundaries. Their contributions have not only enriched our publication but also ensured that the legacy of Feedback Magazine remains vibrant and relevant.

And then there’s Mr. Hara, our greatest mentor, and captain, whose kindness and meticulous attention transformed our H-1 Classroom into a sanctuary of healing and gratitude. His influence extended beyond the nuances of journalism, teaching us about resilience and the importance of community. I will deeply miss the sanctuary he created, which was filled with learning, warmth, and laughter.

Being part of the Feedback family has been both an honor and a privilege—a significant chapter in my life that I will
always treasure. Serving as a writer and eventual Managing Editor for Feedback Magazine was a role that demanded more passion and dedication than any other subject in my curriculum. It was more than fulfilling a role; it was about leading and inspiring, pushing the magazine towards excellence. This role became a defining part of my high school experience, something I hold dear and put my heart into completely. As I move forward, I carry with me not only the knowledge gained but also the fond memories of a team that achieved so much against the odds.

Yujeong O. 

Managing Editor