Near the middle of freshman year, I remember receiving the winter edition of Smoke Signals in my English class. After skimming through the pages and reading all of the articles, I decided that I wanted to have my name inside those editions as well. This was the start of my Smoke Signals journey, and I would not have it any other way!

I started Smoke Signals by experimenting with different forms of media. I wrote articles, took pictures of school events, and even helped draw a seasonal cartoon! After trying all of these positions, I ended up choosing to be a Staff Writer!

At the end of my sophomore year, I applied to be an editor. I have always loved editing papers, from my friends’ to my own! Reading through papers and finding small grammatical errors has always been relaxing for me. As an editor, I became more involved in the publication process, editing papers before they were printed and helping add articles to the online website. Throughout my time doing Smoke Signals, I have written articles and editorials, ranging from topics like musical artists and bullying in schools. For my senior year, I applied for the role of Editor-in-Chief due to my interests in all aspects of the club!

As Editor-in-Chief, I have had a much more involved role in Smoke Signals, ensuring every part of the paper was perfect before it reached students’ hands. This year, I have started to take a larger role in designing the layout of the Smoke Signals Issue covers, using Photoshop and Canva. 

 Smoke Signals has cultivated my love for writing deeply, and I plan to take part in writing clubs, like the Daily Princetonian, when I go to college! This club has meant so much to me during my time in high school, and I highly recommend that students join Smoke Signals!

Jhanvi Patel, Editor-in-Chief, signing off.