Dear IMSA,
17 months. 17 months of lockdown. 17 months of a global pandemic. 17 months without IMSA. And yet, we managed to survive the chaos and uncertainty, finally returning to campus.
To the sophomores, welcome. Little do you know, you’re about to start a whole new chapter in your life. For some of you, this will be the climax of your story, bringing new experiences, friends, and memories. For others, this will be the rough part of your story, but that’s ok. No matter what happens, you are loved here. The IMSA community is always here with open arms to lift you up or support you in the best way possible. Be open to new adventures and get out of your comfort zone. Eventually, your story will flourish.
To the juniors, welcome again. Your introduction to this community was bizarre and incomplete. Instead of experiencing the wonders of IMSA, such as late night talks, Clash, and going on walks, your IMSA experience was confined to a screen. You had to go through the ups and downs of sophomore year limited to only you and your room. But, thankfully, you’re here. You might not feel like true upperclassmen, but that’s the beauty of your IMSA journey. Stay tuned, as good things are sure to come.
To the seniors: welcome back. We aren’t necessarily returning to the IMSA that we once knew and loved, but one that represents a hopeful start to a new chapter of the school’s history. We have a responsibility to maintain beloved traditions, change campus culture for the better, and serve as beacons and allies for our underclassmen. Don’t forget to relax, have fun, and make this the greatest last hurrah for us all.
Our return represents new beginnings. Despite all the unanswered questions that surround our current state, we as a community have come to fight together. Already, everything feels different: new COVID guidelines, daunting workloads, and a couple of broken ceiling tiles in B wing. If you feel overwhelmed, stressed, or burnt out, you are not alone. Talk to your friends, faculty, RCs, and counselors; take a break to socialize and participate in fun activities; and try to get more sleep in the long run. No matter what, understand that you are here for a reason and deserve to feel the vibrancy and interconnectedness of our campus.
As the dust continues to settle, we are proud to release our fifth annual Back to School Edition! We would like to thank all of our staff writers for working extremely hard to produce all of our articles, making this edition possible. We also want to recognize all of our graphic designers — Alexander Zhang, Andrew Zhang, Hannah Johnson, Elaina Xiao, and Sridevi Krothapalli — for their amazing artwork as well as our faculty advisor, Ms. Townsend, for her continued support.
So brace yourselves for what’s to come, stay healthy, and as always, stay golden.
Your 2021-22 EICs,
Oliver Ni and Liz Alcala 💛
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