Nat/World Editor
As the school’s undoubtedly most reliable news source, El Gato prepares to proudly welcome the next batch of brave journalists, ready to deliver completely unbiased news, just as we’ve always done. However, the journey to the Hall of Fame at El Gato is no cakewalk; in fact, it is more like climbing an entire mountain range.
InDesign, the software used to make the newspaper pages, has ruined more than one of my nights. Although my template was as good as it could be at the start of the year, some of us were unfortunate enough to be cursed with haunted templates, making the simplest tasks impossible. Hopefully, you are one of the ones who get a template that works. Even still, I have had countless battles with my computer, trying to move the text box just one click up, and somehow watching it end up on the opposite side of the page. And do not even start on text wrap. It is almost as if the program knows exactly how to push you to the brink of a breakdown.
Perhaps the most frustrating part of the class for many is how meticulous the El Gato Style Guide is. Honestly, it is harder to understand than most AP class syllabi. To this day, I still couldn’t confidently tell you what purpose an Oxford comma serves. The comment to avoid passive voice (APV) is now fully ingrained in my head and will soon be etched in yours. I constantly hear ghosts whispering, “Keep Tone Formal and Objective” and “Better Word Choice.” My subconscious, as well as my writing style, has changed forever.
A bright ray of sunshine during those dark times—when you’re crying over your cursed InDesign page—is the legendary El Gato Wall of Quotes. This magical wall contains the words of the people who voluntarily chose to undertake this difficult quest before you. They are often hilarious comments and make you realize that you are not alone. Others have also suffered through haunted templates and the Style Guide, and shockingly lived to tell the tale.
By far the most important thing, some might call it the secret treasure of El Gato, is the magnificent, mesmerizing, utterly scrumptious snack cabinet. Writing articles is fun, theoretically, but it is nothing compared to the glory that is the snack cabinet. Upon joining El Gato, all members solemnly swear to sacrifice their lives if any danger strikes the cabinet. The snack cabinet is only accessible to El Gatans, and any violations can be punished with shame, exile, or worse.
Although El Gato can be chaotic and even a little terrifying for newcomers on the outside, rest assured that this class is absolutely worth it. You will learn how to find your voice, express your opinions, and meet some cool people along the way, if I do say so myself. Take me, for example. At the beginning of the year, I could not even spell “cheif” properly (can you believe it?!), but now, I can actually write a somewhat coherent article, occasionally. And progress is everything.