Finales: always the most anticipated, yet because of that anticipation, often the most disappointing. They're especially difficult to do well when they've been built up to after months and weeks of time, energy, and investment. All of these words describe the commitment each member of our Arcadia team has put into making our branch of the Odyssey a slam dunk (I used a sport's term--that's how rare a mythical creature we are).

Thus, by way of starting out, I want to introduce the very real possibility that this editor's note will not do justice to all the thought's running through my head right now.

This is our last issue--last of the Fall, last of the year, and a personal milestone, last as Editor-in-Chief.

What a semester.

When I joined "The Odyssey" I was excited for multiple reasons: the chance to get feedback on my writing; the chance to have articles published on a vastly expanding web-site; the chance to have articles actually come into existence, instead of passing "Go" directly into the shady Island of Misfit Thoughts in my brain, where all ideas go to become articles "someday" with "more time" (don't think they visited that corner of Riley's mind in Pixar's "Inside Out" but if they had it would've been dusty).

Yet one of the things I think I took for granted going in, that has become one of my greatest take-outs of the entire "Odyssey" experience, has been the chance to read our staff's--or, if you're a member, your--articles each week. All of the stories that would have passed me by. The personal anecdotes that threw me for a loop, with their honesty and creative voice. The GIFs.

I read articles that I probably never would've thought to click on in a different context that made me realize, what a loss--to not know the vast variety of perspectives that exist, if one just takes a moment to look.

I saw how powerful it can be, when a writer is able to talk about a subject they love, yet you know nothing about, and make that topic utterly fascinating to the novice.

Thank you. Thank you for being the greatest team an Editor-in-Chief could ask for; for making every week feel fresh and exciting, even when I was feeling closer akin to a zombie than a human being. Thank you.

I may not be Editor-in-Chief next semester, but I do know this: I can't wait to read what you have in store for 2016.

Happy New Year,

Rachel

The Odyssey (Arcadia Branch)

Current Writing Team:

Kelli Marie Alsop

Rachel Bellwoar

Jacqueline Carbonetta

Lindsay Deal

Nicole Dilorio

Sarah Doran

Anastasia Fink

Tashna George

Tianna Grosch

Christina Healey

Leslie Hemmings

Sarah Horvath

Jennifer Khawam

Megan Mauro

Sarah McCabe

Sabrina McPherson

Katie Meholic

Gabrielle Rogers

Lauren M. Smith

Aimee J. Wright

Managing Editor:

Nicholas Gallinelli

Contributing Editors:

Aimee J. Wright

Sarah McCabe

Tashna George

Social Media Director:

Megan Mauro

Photographer:

Lauren M. Smith

Odyssey Writers:

Shani Subira Carrington

Kyrstan Dougan

Michele Friere

Hannah (Evren) Thomas

Jenna Gray Somerville

Jamie Stewart

Editor-in-Chief, 2015:

Rachel Bellwoar