When I started writing this letter, I kept going back and forth between two feelings. One was sadness, because this is it. These are the last moments, the last memories, the last time I get to stand in a place that has felt like home for four years. But the other feeling was joy, because when I look back, I see just how much Canyon High Journalism, my classmates, and this school have given me.
When you enter high school, you walk through those north doors filled with fear, uncertainty, and questions about what the future may hold. You do not know where this chapter will take you, who you will become, or how you are supposed to walk those halls with confidence. But every classroom, every conversation, and every experience slowly begins to shape your story.
For me, that story was shaped in Room 1305.
Room 1305 helped shape me into the person I am today, while also preparing me for the next chapter of my life. Canyon Journalism is not just about writing stories, taking photos, or posting on social media. It is about people. It is about connection. It is about having a place where you can walk in exactly as you are and know that is enough.
If you asked any Canyon High journalism student what Room 1305 means to them, I can almost guarantee their answer would sound something like this: it is a place where you can truly be yourself without fear. Room 1305 became a safe place, a second home, and for many of us, a breath of fresh air on the days we needed it most.
It is where you could be completely stressed out one second and dancing to Just Dance the next. It is where fidgets were passed around like treasure, UNO games became professional sports, and the dumbest arguments somehow became the funniest memories. In the middle of all the chaos, we created something meaningful.
Over these four years, I have made countless mistakes, celebrated accomplishments, built friendships, and created memories that I will carry with me forever. Through every publication I worked on, even if there were not many, I learned something valuable. And those lessons were never just about journalism. They were lessons about life, confidence, and learning how to find my voice.
Because that is what Canyon Journalism is truly about.
Yes, we learn how to become stronger writers, better photographers, and creative social media members. But Room 1305 has always been about something deeper than journalism itself. It is about growth. It is about connection. It is about belonging.
Throughout high school, I have lived by a quote from a very wise individual—Mrs. Frausto: “Make It Count.”
At first, it sounded like just another phrase. But over time, I realized it was more than that, it became a mindset. High school is not always easy. Nobody really prepares you for how difficult, confusing, or unfair life can feel at times. You never truly know how everything is going to fall into place, and for some people, those struggles run deeper than others.
Mrs. Frausto taught me that success is not just about achievements, it is about how you treat people, how you carry yourself, and how you continue pushing forward even when life gets difficult. She believed in me during moments when I struggled to believe in myself, and that kind of impact changes a person. She created more than just a journalism program in Room 1305. She created a place where people feel seen, valued, supported, and unapologetically themselves. She has created something in Room 1305 that you can’t put into a lesson plan.
Her influence goes far beyond high school. Long after graduation, I know her words, her lessons, and her belief in her students will stay with all of us. That is the kind of teacher she is, and that is the kind of person I will always be grateful for.
For those who know me personally, you know the beginning of my high school journey was far from easy.
There were changes, challenges, and moments where it felt like everything was uncertain. But through all of it, journalism gave me something steady. It gave me people. It gave me purpose. It gave me a place where I could grow into something bigger than I ever expected.
This school has given me memories I will cherish forever, and it has shaped me into the person I am today. Journalism, especially, changed my life for the better. It introduced me not only to incredible people, but also to the stories within our community. It taught me that every person has a story worth telling, and that is something truly special.
As this chapter comes to an end, I leave with nothing but gratitude. Gratitude for the friendships, the memories, the lessons, and the moments that made these four years unforgettable.
As I stand here today, getting ready to move on to the next chapter of my life, I realize something. It’s not the deadlines, or the assignments, or even the awards that I’ll remember most. It’s the people. It’s the feeling of walking into Room 1305 and knowing I belonged. It’s the laughter, the lessons, and the moments that didn’t seem important at the time, but ended up meaning everything.
So if there’s one thing I want to leave you with, it’s this: Find your place. Find your people. And when you do—MAKE IT COUNT!
To Room 1305, Thank you. Thank you for becoming more than just a classroom. Thank you for becoming a home.
Bradley Enriquez, class of 2026, Signing out!
