It’s the end of an era. I’m nearing the end of my time at The Voyager. I served as a staff reporter my sophomore year, opinion editor for my junior year, and now hold a coveted position as managing editor on the executive board.
It’s all I could have dreamed of.
But my greatest accomplishment, besides my numerous awards and accolades, is accomplishing a goal no other editor at The Voyager has ever achieved.
Writing over 100 articles.
When you hear this, you probably assume I’m some sort of hermit – writing like I’m running out of time. That is true to an extent. Almost all of my hobbies extend from some kind of writing. I write articles, poems, prose, memoirs, plays, and am currently working on a novel.
With so many hard-worked pieces, creating a list of favorites was hard. Here are the articles I decided are my best.
(And yes, this did start as a top ten list, but turned into a top fifteen because I couldn’t narrow it down)
This short story was originally written as a joke. I was showing the underclassmen in my journalism class how to format the traditional Voyager heading for Google Docs, and I wrote the title that would eventually turn into this story.
Is it silly? Obviously. It was based on a meme, after all. However, I was able to add a surprising amount of depth to it. The story is satirical yet thoroughly grounded. The rats, outside of being literal rodents, also serve as metaphors for the corrupting influence of the vile people of the world. A piece of creative writing with this many layers deserves a spot on this list.
This is another piece that, although satirical, stands out among the others. I channeled my love for bread bowls and baked goods, writing a hyperbolic piece with a lot of bread-related imagery.
Besides using literary elements, I also wrote some of my criticisms. Particularly Panera removing my favorite menu items for much inferior options. First my Prickly Pear Hibiscus Fresca, and now my Steak and White Cheddar sandwich? I cannot believe you, Panera.
This piece turned into a two-part saga due to the Charged Lemonade fiasco. Part two can be read here.
This lyric essay was one of my first assignments for my AP Lit class. We had to write about one of our “daily delights”—a brief, imagery-ridden moment in your chaotic day that brought you joy and made the havoc worth it.
I wrote about my final sighting of the Eastern stray cats. They now live with Eastern’s secretaries and custodial staff. More on the cats with Speaking With Steve.
This moment was magical. I was walking during Lifestyle with my good friend Molly Smith and a brief glimpse of one of the cats. It was the closest I saw one in person. It felt like a final send-off, after writing about them for so many years.
This essay is a hot take. It isn’t something all readers will agree with. And that’s the beauty of it.
I had a very different perspective on One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. When you realize it is a satire, told by unreliable narrator Chief Bromden, you see that Nurse Ratched is not the authoritative villain many perceive her as. She is simply a mental health professional, subjected to the cruel standards of the time, just trying to do her job. Keep order.
Nurse Ratched wants to help the men in the ward become better citizens and people, which conflicts with McMurphy’s overwhelming lust and desire to smuggle in booze, drugs, and prostitutes. When you read it in that light, is she really a villain? Or simply the mouse to the misogynistic men of the ward?
If you are interested, I would give this a read. Manifesting this got a great grade as well, as it is my senior essay(lol).
This essay is 100% something only I would come up with. I read To The Lighthouse early on in my AP Lit class, and we had to do a research project for it. While others in my class analyzed history and art, I compared the characters to their respective counterparts in the 2023 smash-hit film Barbie. Which I took 15 of my friends to see for my birthday, and am totally not obsessed with!
I compared Mrs. Ramsey to Gloria, as they both represent motherhood and the turmoil that can accompany it. Toxic masculinity is represented by Mr. Ramsey and Ken, who desperately try to make themselves Kenough. The Nineteenth Century Woman was represented through Lily and Barbie—two women struggling to find their places and independence in the world.
I earned a 97 on this project, and was quite proud of it. Definitely would recommend if you’re a fan of Virginia Woolf, Barbie, and feminist media!
This is, single handedly, the best poem I have written. I was able to channel my emotions into something so cathartic and powerful, with some of my best imagery, extended metaphor, and an ending that gives me chills.
I will be performing this poem at the Poetry Ourselves slam at the Count Basie Center later this May, and I can’t wait!
This article was written with my good friend Molly Smith for our journalism “Where We Are” assignment. We decided to write about Eastern’s Genders and Sexualities Alliance Club, as we are both passionate about queer rights and wanted to shed light on the club.
It was a joy to sit in on one of their meetings, taking pictures that perfectly capture the mission of the GSA club. I had so much fun interviewing my friends for this article, and Molly and I came up with something truly incredible.
This was a piece I felt I had to write. Two years after the end of my first relationship, I found myself reading through my old diary and journal entries from back when I was head over heels for him. I spent so much ink, so many pages, romanticizing our relationship to convince myself things were better than they were.
I wanted to write something that captured the real nature of the relationship. How it was, behind the curtain and lovey-dovey Instagram posts. How I depended so much on the feedback from others, defining my self-esteem on the success of a relationship that wasn’t meant to be.
This piece was one of my most vulnerable and one of my proudest. I got a lot of messages from my peers thanking me for writing it. It was something they needed to hear, and helped them heal from their relationship wounds. That’s all I could hope for. I have always written in the hopes of helping those around me, and I am so proud I was able to do that with this piece.
Mrs. Pomerantz was an absolute angel. She helped me so much during my junior year at Eastern, always compassionate. She welcomed me into Poetry Out Loud with open arms, despite the fact I joined midway through the year. The club became my safe space, which I truly needed. I was going through a lot junior year, between false friendships and fear for my dad after his heart attack.
Pomerantz never judged and was always someone anyone could go to in their time of need. When Bowne asked if someone could interview her for a retirement article, I was first in line. I saw the true passion of Pomerantz towards her teaching career, promoting empathy, authenticity, and looking at life through a positive lens. I live by those morals to this day.
In addition, I gathered letters from her current students, wishing her well in her retirement. This article was so heartfelt. I captured the full nature of Mrs Pomerantz and gave her something to remember her time by.
This four-article series was a passion project of mine. The idea came to mind during my junior year. I wanted to write something that would capture the struggles of mental health through the lens of those who are struggling. I was able to cover the mental health of high school and college students, the resources Eastern and colleges provide, the mental health of teachers, and a Minding Your Mind presenter who shared her experience with eating disorders and suicidal ideation. These articles, although taking a lot of research and time, are some of my all-time favorites. I would highly recommend them.
This essay was the first I wrote for my AP Language and Composition class. We had to write based on one of the seven prompts used for Common App essays. I wrote about my special bond with my late Pop-Pop. He watched the moment I taught myself to read at the ripe age of two off the TV guide. He fostered my love of language, encouraging me to keep reading and helping me write picture books, which he would illustrate. He passed away almost ten years ago, and every Christmas, I write a story involving him for my grandmother. We keep his legacy alive.
My Pop-Pop was one of the most influential figures in my life, and he taught me the power of words. How they can help heal open wounds. Foster relationships. Save lives. Without his encouragement, I might not have turned yt to be the journalist-novelist-playwright-poet extraordinaire I am today.
I, admittedly, was a bit afraid to put this article out. It was my most controversial to date, but one I was very passionate about. I transferred to Eastern from Central High School in Philadelphia and quickly noticed the lack of diversity in required history courses. I interviewed teachers from across the history curriculum, as well as Dr Borda, Director of Academic Programs and Student Performance.
This article is one of my proudest. I covered the issue in an informative way that helps pave the way for change and further representation of all communities.
This article is my most vulnerable and is one that I needed to write. My dad had a heart attack during my junior year. He was in perfect health. It came as a shock to all of us. It was terrifying, leaving a stressful day of school to find out that my dad was having open heart surgery. We didn’t know what would happen, if he would be okay. I was the most afraid I had ever been.
Thankfully, he survived. He had a 95% chance of dying, and likely wouldn’t have beat the odds if it wasn’t for his vigilant coworkers and personal strength. A year later, he is feeling better than ever! He was able to take things one step at a time, keep moving forward, and build his strength up even higher than it was pre-heart attack. I am so proud of his perseverance and determination, and wanted to write something that commemorated his indomitable will to keep on going, to see his family, and do whatever it takes to keep on living.
The articles that started it all. A silly series where I “interviewed” the stray cats of Eastern. My first front page article.
Speaking With Steve is a series that means the world to me. It was another article I feel that only I could have written. I saw the page @ehsstraycats on Instagram, and wanted to talk abut Eastern’s favorite friendly felines! What are their personalities? Music tastes? Political values? The world needs to know!
The six articles were fun and lighthearted, with a central message of finding homes for stray cats through local shelters. The series spanned my time at Eastern, ending earlier this year after the stray cats were captured and adopted by Eastern staff members.
I am honored that I was able to publicize these precious pets, and aid in them finding their furever homes. I will forever be grateful for the opportunities this article brought me, and wish Steve, Slim Shady, Snickers, and the kittens all the best!
This is my best article. It’s one that I felt inspired to write during my sophomore year, and finally published a year later.
I saw the way my neurodivergent friends were treated, in and outside of the classroom. Because of their neurological differences, many saw them as subhuman, and treated them as the butt of every joke. It wasn’t right.
This injustice inspired me to write something that would inspire empathy and understanding of the neurodiverse community. The central message of the article was just because neurodivergent students may think and act differently than the norm, that does not mean they are different from the rest of the population. They are quick learners, kind friends, always looking for a person willing to understand them.
This article received a lot of praise, including a Student News Organization award. I got many messages from friends thanking me for writing this article, saying how much it meant to them. I am honored that I was able to write a piece with a positive representation of neurodiversity, promoting equality and human empathy.
Over 100 articles, awards from the Student News Organization, AP Language and Composition, published in the Young Writers Annual Showcase, Eastern’s 2024 Poetry Out Loud Champion. It’s a hell of a legacy to leave behind.
I would also like to announce that I am currently working on publishing my first book, “From The Mind of Kaitlin Swift”! It will have the best of the best of my work as a journalist, writer, playwright, and poet! For more information and updates, follow @swiftyscribes on Instagram!
I would like to thank my journalism teacher, Mr. Bowne, for all of his encouragement during these past three years at Eastern. Without his guidance, I surely wouldn’t be where I am now, moving onto Montclair State University Honors College to study journalism in the fall.
To the successors of The Voyager, be authentic. Write pieces that you are passionate about. Articles that only you could have written. Articles that are authentically you hold so much power, and can withstand any criticism.
Next, don’t let criticism break you. You will receive it. But don’t let it cut you down! Every edit, improvement, and remark I have received has only made my writing and graphic design stronger. Diamonds are created from the utmost pressure. So shine bright!
Lastly, remember to have empathy. When you interview a person or interact with a classmate, they could be having the worst day of their life. You don’t know their circumstances. So please, no matter your biases, or determination to get an article done, be patient. Be kind. The best articles are written with an empathetic lens that sees all sides of a situation.
It has been my honor to serve as managing editor of The Voyager. Thank you to Mr. Bowne, my fellow Executive Board members and editors, my teachers and advisors, and all staff reporters and contributors of The Voyager. I have learned so much from every one of you. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for me at Montclair and beyond. Be authentic, resilient, and empathetic. And most of all, keep moving forward!
