By Ainsley Northrop

Editor-in-Chief

After three years of hardcore writing, tedious page creation, daring photography, and relentless editing, I, Ainsley Northrop (your favorite El Gato staff member), am signing off. You may be panicking. I would panic, too, if the person who writes my favorite stories was leaving me in the dust. “Who’s going to keep me updated on all things choir and water polo?” “Who’s going to leave me chuckling after all her Humor articles and take photos of the most random school events?” While I may be going off to college soon, I am not gone yet. So, here are some of my greatest moments as an El Gatan. 

When I first joined El Gato, I was one of the only people who didn’t take Multimedia Journalism, and nothing prepared me for the terrifying world of InDesign. Trying to type on a line nearly gave me an aneurysm and, somehow, I managed to warp every single photo on my page. My knowledge was at such a deficit that, my first press week, I finished dead last with tears in my eyes. But, as Kelly Clarkson likes to say, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Soon after, I became one of the fastest to finish. 

Fast forward a year and it’s the start of my photography career. I am on the pool deck with fellow El Gatan Nelson Kramer. If you are a true fan, you already know what went down from my Humor article last year. To briefly summarize, let’s just say that Kramer and I thought it would be a good idea to ask a random lady for camera advice. This ended in one broken lens and two broken hearts. I’d like to think that this fluke sparked my unbeatable photography motivation; who else can say they’ve taken photos of everything from water polo and the Spirit Rally to Dog Day and even a (staged at the last minute) math competition for Katie Nelson’s article? 

This article wouldn’t be complete without mentioning my singular day spent as a graphics editor. Anyone who’s seen my drawings on the white board in room 506 (sorry, AP Lit) knows that my art skills are…questionable. A portrait of Lucy Panicacci constructed entirely out of the word “Lucy” and an abstract compilation of names remain among my best works. Needless to say, when last year’s chiefs made me a graphics editor, I panicked. If my drawings had ever made it into the paper, one might’ve guessed that a toddler was submitting guest work. Thankfully, with one art reference photo, I escaped my fate and took on a second year as a People editor. You should be thankful. 

Finally, let’s not forget my investigative journalism. This year, Panicacci and I trekked through the LG pickleball courts in search of the truth behind the motor oil vandalism. Last year, I spent hours researching an obscure art competition and tracking down the students who were a part of it. And sophomore year, I braved the Drama events – even after I quit the class the year prior. 

In all seriousness, I will miss El Gato dearly. I’ll always remember when someone spelled my name “Ainlsey Northdrop” in one of last year’s issues, when we had to determine how to consistently capitalize sports teams, how we always had Zumba parties, and how — during nearly every class — I munched on Dot’s pretzels with Margo Rawlings. This class has been an adventure that I’ll never forget.