Dear Country Day,

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One cold morning during my Sophomore year, I woke up extra early. It was a cold-sweat, too-nervous-to-sleep kind of wake-up call. That morning before school, I was meeting two of the people that I looked up to most at that point in my life – Grace Tabor and Ryan Benson – the two-person team that ran and operated The Hook. 

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Before walking into that interview, I’d only ever gotten up the nerve to publish one article for The Hook. Looking back, I see that I wasn’t quite ready to come to terms with what I had to say and who I was. It intimidated me to put myself out there in such a raw way. What I knew, however, was that it was a publication that had real impact – that sparked conversations on campus and that made people question who they were, and what Country Day was. I desperately wanted to be a part of that. I would be lying if I told you that I remembered the entire interview or application process. What I do remember, however, was walking out of Caribou with a spring in my step – an excitement to hopefully become a part of something bigger. 

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And become I did. 

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Alongside Foster, Rachel, Emma, and Lucy, I worked to make The Hook into something that we were proud of. It grew from being a two-person team, to now being nearly a dozen people as we were inspired by the new and excited voices of many new editors.  

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Over my last two and a half years as an editor, the publication has had words taken out, words put in, pictures edited, long conversations with many teachers, and even longer conversations with many student writers. We editors have been those people clogging up your inbox. 

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Growing up, my mom always told me never to make a fear based decision. And if there’s one thing that I’ve learned over these last four years it’s that it’s better to have your words out there—however raw, misspelled or scary – than to sit on something that could be genius out of fear.  

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My advice to every Country Day student is just send it in. There are no promises: it could be published, it could be shot down. The point is that you’re trying.   

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Working on the last edition that I’ll ever be a part of, I’m so beyond proud of the work that we’ve done and I’m so extremely excited to see what the future has to come. I feel more than lucky to leave this publication in the very trusted hands of Foster, Riley, Ellie, Lilah, Charlotte and McAuley. 

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When I walk across at that stage at graduation, it will be with the same spring in my step that I left Caribou with that day – with the hope of being a part of something that matters in the future, and with the knowledge that I’ve done just that in the past. 

 

Mimi

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Country Day,

 

As a underclassman I had always looked up to The Hook, reading each edition closely. Although I admired it dearly, I never even considered writing a piece….because I could never put myself out there like that (horrible advice, please don't listen to me). I remember reading a brand new Hook edition one day during English 10, and as I scrolled down on the “Politics” tab, I found my brother's name (Andrew Gardner '17) listed under an article title. I was shocked to find that he had written a piece, as he never even hinted to me on our daily car rides to and from school, that he had submitted one. This is what got me thinking. Just a few short days later, (very coincidental timing, I know) Ryan and Grace sent out an email asking for people to interview for The Hook.  

 

My personal experience with The Hook and journal-style writing was basically non-existent as I walked into that interview in 2017. Similarly to Mimi, I walked into Caribou with trembling hands, clutching my pink notebook that encompassed all my new ideas for The Hook. That rainy sophomore morning seems like last week, and it's so crazy to think I have been part of something so unique for two and a half years now.  

 

Feeling good about myself, my interview, and full of hope for getting the position, the next Monday morning I walked into my Improv class confidently to brag on myself. I sat next to my friend Lucy Elliott (Current Co-Managing-Editor), and started to spill all the details of my interview and how happy, yet nervous, I was to get the results. Then, much to my surprise, Lucy does not congratulate me, but instead quickly asks what position I had interviewed for. As I responded with "Managing Editor,” I watched her eyes roll back in her head and the palm of her hand came to her forehead as she spit out, "Oh Noey.” Of course me and my fellow bestie had interviewed for the same position - and only one of us could get it. Being the good friends that we are, I knew this wouldn't make or break our friendship, but also knowing our equal competitiveness, I began to worry a bit. (A few weeks later we ended up both getting the position and all was well). 

 

I could go on and on to tell all of the hilarious stories that have come from long nights editing articles and early mornings meeting with Mrs. Hutchinson and Mrs. Derby, but I will leave those unsaid, and instead encourage you to get involved with The Hook and to create some of those stories for yourself. I have been so honored to work alongside a bad*** team (shout out to you guys -- Lucy, Jacob, Emma, Foster, Riley, Char, McAuley, Lilah, Ellie, and of course, Mimi). I can’t wait to watch this amazing team of individuals kick butt for the next few years and see what they make of this awesome club/school newspaper/outlet/cult-like group. And with that, thank you Country Day (and Grace & Ryan) for trusting me and allowing me to share something so unique for the past few years. Peace out :P 

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Rachel