For the April print edition of The Plank, a whole new “shadow” staff was created and filled with Juniors and Sophomores who then acted as understudies to their Senior counterparts.These apprenticeships will serve to instill in next year’s staff a sense of responsibility that is necessary to run The Plank effectively and efficiently next year.

Valuable lessons have been taught in each specialized job. From Copy Editor to Features Editor, each member has begun to learn the skills necessary to create a publication of quality and interest.

It has been quite the experience and called for all members to step out of their comfort zones, and we have all learned a great deal from this trial. That’s the beauty in doing something new and stepping out of your comfort zone; you can learn and grow.

Trying something new, whether it’s a sport like soccer or writing for The Plank, can teach you something you didn’t know about yourself. You might have a knack for it or maybe it takes some extra effort. You might even be horrible at it, but you’ll never know if you don’t step out of your comfort zone and try. Part of why life is so interesting and enjoyable is because of our ability to learn experience new things.

I urge you, Marauders, to try something new. You might just learn something, and even if you don’t, at least you can still look forward to reading the next edition of The Plank.

     Sincerely,

     William D. Porter

     “Shadow” Editor-in-Chief