Here Comes the Sun

Bennett Wood, Guest Columnist|September 7, 2014

Ok, I really wanted this to be anonymous, but I don’t really want to spend the time finding a website that sends anonymous emails. I would rather just speak my mind then pretend to not care.

Nonetheless, the subject speaks for itself. And I know for a fact that I am NOT the only one.

Now clearly, the paper still exists, thanks to the brilliance of thehorizonsun.com; however, nobody knows about the website itself. Ok, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, so sorry, but it’s too close to true, as sad as that is.

I have been talking with my mother (Mrs. Wood, 7th grade Humanities) recently about how my friends miss the physical newspaper that would come out with a new issue weekly, and how that encouraged all of us to actually READ the paper and appreciate the works of the fantastical Journalism students. Of course, I don’t want you to go back to the physical paper version, but it’s the example I’m using to prove my point.

Basically, you need advertisement. How many times in the first five weeks of school were there the SAME ANNOUNCEMENTS OVER AND OVER and teachers just started skipping some because, honestly, they were filler announcements to look like things were happening? If you don’t know by now that you a) can get CPR certified, b) must be in dress code, no matter the weather (duh), or c) cannot leave campus and come back after school is out, then where the heck have you been?

All I’m saying is, get the word out there! I have the privilege of being best friends with the Editor-in-Chief and pretty great scholastic lab pals with Editor Kelliegh Hogan, and the stuff they work on is kick-butt and should be read by more than just Joe Shmoe who has nothing else to do in Scholastic Lab, and me, who religiously reads the website at least once a week. And so is the rest of everything on your website!

All you need is an announcement that runs once, maybe twice in a row, saying that there’s a new issue of the Horizon Sun online, and that’s all! (Sorry F. Scott Fitzgerald, that ! was necessary; I know I’m not that funny) At least 20-30 people would at the very least go online and admire the design of the website, if not read and comment on some of the articles that tickle their fancies. That kind of announcement I wouldn’t mind reading once a week or once every two weeks. Also, you could put up little 8 1/2×11 posters around the school that read something like “Look out for this week’s issue of The Horizon Sun at thehorizonsun.com!” Bam! Instant results. Plus, possibly creating an app, updating the mobile website, or having something that’s easier to access and is more readily accessible at any point in time when students aren’t in front of a desktop computer.

The possibilities here are virtually endless. (Get it? Cause you run a website? And it’s a cheesy closer?) There are so many talented writers in your group this year, and I personally am so excited to see what gets added and improved to the Horizon Sun this year. I just want to share the excitement with my classmates, and encourage my fellow Horizonites to read the paper and love life even more than they do already.

I hope this wasn’t too long and boring, and that my point was made loud and clear. If I can be of any assistance through this process, please let me know, and I will do my best to do what I can.

I shall end this notice with a quote I’ve come to love, especially because I’m a senior who worries all the time and wants to give up on a daily basis:
“I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy – I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.”
-Art Williams
Your friend, avid reader, lover, and fellow Horizonite,

Bennett A. Wood
Vice President of Student Council
Vice President of National Honors Society
President of Choir Council
Representative of Band Council

Teacher Assistant for Cynthia Shaheen