Senior Column — Aislinn Menke

I often think about how much less stressful high school would’ve been if I hadn’t filled out that Harbinger application during Mr. Burrow’s freshman geometry class. I wouldn’t have to feel the 1600 eyes on me while taking pep assembly photos. I wouldn’t have to get up at 5 a.m. to shoot Mol day. And I wouldn’t have to drive 30 minutes to Olathe to broadcast a football game. 

But if I’d never turned in that application, I never would’ve met a Sphynx cat for a photostory or been a mother to 20 crackhead ‘tog children. I never would’ve been plagued by amusing GroupMe notifications or eaten all those delicious Chick-fil-A deadline dinners. 

I’m so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and was able to experience Togsgivings, the Can Drive assembly of death, Reilly’s tears, the hot guys folder, Ty shotgunning La Croix, Diana being my lord and savior, our hallway picnics — the list could go on. 

I may never have been a KSPA photographer of the month or NSPA photojournalist of the year — props to all my photogs for winning those, y’all have more talent in a drop of sweat than I have in my whole body. Instead, I took a more relaxed approach to being on staff. Tate and my fellow staffers would agree I may never have been the most focused worker or the one to take major initiative (and that’s on doing the bare minimum).

No, my goal instead was to bring as much fun and comfort to our toggie brainstorm sessions as I could. I know what it feels like to be a first year photog when you’re too scared of the editors to ask for help. I wanted to make sure all my tog children felt comfortable, and most importantly, loved.

To all my photog babies: I am going to miss your beautiful, smiling faces and I am so proud of each and every one of you. Thank you for making me cry-laugh with all your spazzy moments and for distracting me while sitting on the sidelines at basketball games. 

I’m going to give y’all some advice: keep your heads up, stay positive and stand up for yourselves. I know it can be intimidating to work with writers and designers, but let your ideas shine. You control what photos you take, and you should be able to choose what goes on your page. Do what I didn’t — take initiative. Learn how to design, how to write, and how to make videos. 

Although I took a more “relaxed approach” to being on staff this year, thank you Harbinger for giving me my second family and an abundance of memories. 

Thank god I filled out that application.