Change is part of life. Spring turns into summer, children turn into adults, high school seniors become college freshmen, and Central Digest Copy Editors turn into loyal readers.
Three years ago, I was a timid sophomore who was still trying to figure out how high school worked. I was a bit of an awkward outlier from the rest of the Class of 2017, but I was determined to leave my mark on Central High School. This proved to be a difficult task, but I made it happen through the Central Digest.
I walked into Mr. Gregory Cantrell’s classroom on the first day of my sophomore year in August of 2014, nervous and anxious to be joining such a special group of students. It was that day that I met a group of talented individuals that I have come to know and adore over the last three years. I had the pleasure of working under former Editor-in-Chief Allie Nedeau my first two years, as a staff writer (Sophomore year, 2014) and an official photographer (Junior year, 2015).
As my second year on the Central Digest came to an end, we said goodbye to Allie and former Copy-Editor Jadyn Snakenberg. Jadyn’s roll as Copy Editor fell to myself, and Allie passed on her clipboard Savannah Smith, who I have have had the priveledge of sharing the leadership of the Digest with this 2016-2017 school year.
My Editor-in-Chief and my life-long friend, Savannah “Rosemary Jones” Smith, I am so grateful for the time we have gotten to spend with each other over the past three years. We started our membership on the Digest together, and we are watching it come to an end together. There is no other senior in our class who could have handled the role as Editor-in-Chief as graciously as you have, and certainly no other student I would have wanted to work alongside of this year. You have done such a wonderful job encouraging our staff to be the very best that they can be. As we both close this chapter of our lives and open up the next, I will miss your bright spirit, the way you can make anyone smile on a rough day, and the laughter that you always have with you. Your genuine kindness is something I hope you carry with you always and I wish you the very best-of-luck as you venture on into this new chapter of your life.
To the new leaders of the Digest: Preston, Matthew, and Jake, I have had the blessing of getting to know each of you these last few years.
Preston “Gilly” Fore, I have watched you blossom from a freshman into the next Editor-in-Chief of the Digest. It has been such a privilege to watch you grow into the person that you have become over my time on the Digest, and I look forward to nothing more than seeing what you accomplish in the new year as your reign over the Digest begins. I know you will take care of what we have created here and you will continue to push the staff toward bigger and better things. These next two years are yours, make the most of them. Oh and do not worry, I did not forget to wish you the very best-of-luck on the fishing team, too.
Matthew “Mattykins” Davis, you hold a special place in my heart. You came to the Digest as a purple-polo-wearing freshman who could have not have fit in any better with us on the Digest. I watched as you confidently made friends, on and off the Digest, wishing I could have the confidence and grace that you have with your peers. I know you will take on the responsibility of an editor on the Digest with confidence and I trust that you will take care of it in the way that I have tried to.
To Jake “Missy Mae” Johns, I cannot begin to describe happiness that you have brought onto the staff. I met you as an ambitious freshman who joined the Central Digest with the most joyful attitude that I have ever known someone to have. I envy your ability to let nothing affect your bright attitude and your confidence. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that you will continue the hard work you have put into the Central Digest and I cannot wait to see where your future takes you. I know I will be seeing your name internationally in only a few years, whether it be in the field of journalism or somewhere with Ariana Grande.
To the rest of the staff, I am so proud of all of you. The Central Digest could not happen without you. You have all worked so hard this year, and it is because of this hard work that we became one of SNO’s National Distinguished Websites and we ended up second at our state competition this year. Your hard work, wonderful writing, and desire to do your best has made the Digest what it is today and I am so proud of all of you. I hope you will continue this hard work as I leave you all, and I hope you will encourage that same work ethnic in the members that will join you all next year.
Last but certainly not least, I want to thank Mr. Gregory Cantrell. As a timid sophomore, you welcomed me into your room with kindness and you have helped me develop into not only the writer I am today, but the person that I am. You have offered me advice in every aspect of my high school career, and I will miss no other teacher as much as I will miss you. You have provided me with the support that I have needed so often over the past three years, and you have encouraged me in everything that I do. There is no other teacher who could lead the Digest as well as you have, and I am so blessed that I have had the privilege of working under your advisement. As college English classes loom in the near future, I am so grateful for all of the things you have taught me throughout my time in journalism, as well as the year I spent in your English class. Do not worry, though, you are not rid of me just yet! Prepare yourself now for the college essays I will bombard you with next year to edit and criticize for me. Emails have a red pen feature, right?
So, here is to the Central Digest. Here is to the years of laughter we have shared, pizza parties, trips to Golden Corral, stories we have written, awards we have won, and friends that we have made.
Now, it is with a heavy heart that I wipe my tears and bid the Central Digest adieu. It is my turn to hand over my clipboard and step into the fantastic pool of readers that have remained loyal to the Central Digest for many years. As college stares at me from a not-so-far off distance, I take comfort in the knowledge that I will never be to far away from what is going on at my soon-to-be alma mater, as I will be able to stay in the loop through the Central Digest.
I wish the new leaders, the current staff, and the newest members the very best of luck, and in the event that you ever need help, I am no further than a phone call away. I love each and every one of you with all my heart and there is no other group of students that I would have wanted to share my four years of high school with.

The 2017 Central Digest Copy Editor,
Shelby Campbell
“Good bye may seem forever. Farewell is like the end, but in my heart is the memory and there you will always be.” – Walt Disney.