I always find it important to reflect on the origins of holidays that occur this time of year. Thanksgiving allegedly originated as a celebration of the first meal shared between the newly arrived American colonists and the Native Americans. Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, Our Lady’s firstborn child. Even New Year’s Eve, despite marking the culmination of a calendar year, honors the first day of the new year with resolutions and optimism.

Even in new beginnings, I can never shake the delayed feeling of closure, like the impending dread that sets in after the holidays. This issue aims to do what I do best… procrastinate those subdued feelings (graduation) and anxieties (graduating without a job). We hope to inspire readers to enjoy the “now” and be grateful for the people, memories and traditions that we are lucky to celebrate, even temporarily.

Perspective writers maintain a similar sentiment, sharing stories of devoted professors at Notre Dame and how a Junior Parents Weekend speech encouraged the daily practice of gratitude.

The news section takes on a more serious tone, presenting the recent government shutdown’s impact on South Bend and a campus incident that had students reevaluating safety protocols. Be sure to read the story about medical volunteering in South Bend and sign up to get involved.

The culture writers remind us to be grateful that Taylor Swift has so much great music out there (regardless of whether her most recent album qualifies) and that the Marriage Pact can achieve our perfect happily ever after. The opinion section reminds me that I am grateful to have this platform to explore my freedom of speech and no longer eat in the dining hall. And the only thing senior humor writer and Scholastic managing editor, Libby Garnett, will ever be grateful for is the eventual comeback of every Catholic’s greatest emotion: shame.

Lastly, the sports section evokes feelings of gratitude for our commitment to bettering Notre Dame athletics with new coaches and teams and athletic clubs, like Baraka Bouts, with vested commitments to service.

As I flip through the pages of Scholastic's past, pondering how I’d like to sign off this last issue of the semester, I remind myself that bittersweet endings and new beginnings are not so different after all. To quote my personal idol (kidding) and one of my favorite TV shows, “I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you left them” - Andy Bernard. Don’t we all, Andy, don’t we all.

Thankful to those who made it this far. Cheers to the beginning of the end,

Tess Reinhart