Hadley Chapman: Being apart of The Harbinger was an emotional roller coaster, but as her time on staff comes to an end, she knows she will miss the twists and turns

I’ve always loved roller coasters. The ones with loops and unexpected turns make me a little queasy, but once the ride’s over, I’m filled with adrenaline and want to go again. When I got to high school, I was met with one of the scariest and most thrilling roller coasters I’ve ever experienced: The Harbinger.

Walking into 413B on my first day of high school for J1, I met Tate. I’d been warned that I would develop a “love-hate” relationship with him and that it was “impossible to get an A.” Sitting in the back row, it felt like I was in a roller coaster car, slowly ticking to the top of the first hill with the unknown tracks below. The semester began and I found my way through my first feature story, page design and interview lectures. 

The first drop wasn’t that bad — I was ready to apply for The Harbinger. 

Second semester I joined the staff as a photographer. I learned the basics and worked to become the best I could be. There were some slight turns and small hills, but overall the ride was smooth — until second semester sophomore year. I started to feel that slow climb again as I realized my goal: Head Editor. I stepped into a conference room with the Head Photo Editors to interview for the assistant position.  

I was still climbing.

They announced my name at the end-of-year banquet as one of three assistant editors for the next year. I grabbed the safety bar. 

Still climbing. 

I watched Maggie and Elise closely throughout the next year, observing their tasks and making notes on how to run the photography staff, knowing this would be my job the following year. 

Still. Climbing. 

You know that feeling when you go on a ride and think you’re past the scary part only to be met with a peak twice as high and you realize the ride hasn’t really even begun? 

A year later I accepted my position of Head Photo Editor. Summer started and the responsibilities came hurtling toward me — assign cameras to all 30 photographers, organize a checkout system, go to Dallas for leadership classes, strategize how to revamp the entire publication, put a plan in place to train new members. 

I’d reached the bottom of the tallest peak. The school year hadn’t even started.  

Next came the jerky turns and vortexes. We made it through with little conflict until applications opened for second semester. We had no room to accept new staffers and keep all of our current photogs. After a lengthy interview process, we had our staff to successfully finish out the year.  

The coaster car is slowing down now and I can see the exit platform ahead of me. After all of the dizzying loops and unexpected plummets, I’m anxious to get off. But I know the second I step out, I’ll turn and look back at the ride — and wish I could do it all over again.