For everyone on The Choate News Masthead, there is a particular sense of joy found amidst the demanding process of bringing an issue from assignments to print. Whether it’s spending hours copyediting or working into the early hours of the morning crafting layouts, members of The Choate News have connected through the challenges of producing the paper since 1907.
Adanma Raymond ‘12
Adanma Raymond ‘12 joined The Choate News as a copy editor during her fourth-form year. Raymond remarked that much of her inspiration to contribute to the paper came from other editors and the news faculty adviser, Mr. Zach Goodyear. “I wouldn’t even say it was a particular moment so much as it was the opportunity to work with him and be mentored by him. He could be quite demanding, but in a way that felt supportive,” Raymond said. Her perspective reflects how students build community through hard work and commitment to journalistic excellence through working on the publication.
Raymond recalled the challenge of balancing the paper with other activities while developing a communal voice as Editor-in-Chief of the 105th Masthead (then known as the Editorial Board). By facing these challenges head-on, she gained a newfound appreciation for publishing accurate journalism. Reflecting on the value of student journalism, she said, “Top of mind right now is what’s going on at Cornell and how much their publication had an impact there. It was about balancing our own opinions and reckoning with them alongside remaining a collective voice of students.” After a gap year, Raymond attended Columbia University, where her Choate experience shaped how she wrote for various publications and served on the student council. “It helped me recognize that working harder and being willing to sacrifice some of the easier parts of the student experience can give you exposure to how an institution that you care about is run,” she said.
Lucas Ferrer ‘17
Lucas Ferrer ‘17 began his journey at The Choate News in his fourth-form year, after writing an opinion article on a Choate trip to Saudi Arabia. After becoming an official member of the publication as a copy editor, Ferrer was eventually appointed Managing Editor of the 110th Masthead. Ferrer fondly reflected on high-intensity moments that brought him closer to other members of the Masthead. “I just think the most memorable times that I had were when we were just sending the paper off and rushing to get everything done,” Ferrer said.
Later, Ferrer attended Yale University, where his experience as Managing Editor helped prepare him to face the challenges of college. “I think ultimately it just prepared me to manage myself and have responsibilities that were greater than myself,” said Ferrer. He hopes that current members of the Masthead will take the opportunity to have fun amidst the occasional stress of working on the newspaper. “We would just make memories. I mean, that’s really what it’s about,” said Ferrer. Ferrer’s sentiment highlights an important aspect of being part of any student-led organization — as much as it is important to take things seriously, it is equally essential to find moments to laugh.
Reinah Lee ‘26
Reinah Lee ‘26, the paper’s most recent former Editor-in-Chief, started her journey at The Choate News on the way home for Thanksgiving, her third-form year. Still getting used to navigating the demands of Choate student life, Lee was inspired by a friend of hers to write for the paper. “I was always interested in broadcasting and journalism when I was younger. I was part of my elementary school’s daily news network and one of the anchors where we would share the weather and things like that,” Lee said.
Lee quickly climbed the ladder of the Masthead, becoming Copy Editor in the spring of her third-form year before becoming the Section Editor of Sports. As Editor-in-Chief, Lee’s most rewarding experience was the collaborative issue with Deerfield Academy, showcasing the beloved rivalry just in time for Deerfield Day. “It was a lot of work, but getting to see it come out, printed, and hearing from Deerfield kids that I knew that they loved the paper … It was honestly good for me,” Lee said.
Now a student at Northeastern University, Lee echoed the sentiment from past leaders of The Choate News. “I think our true selves come out when we are under pressure, and [being part of The News] taught me a lot about myself and who I am as a leader,” she said. Lee hopes that the current executives, Editor-in-Chief Maia Shah ‘27 and Managing Editor Rachel Fan ‘27, will trust their instincts and ideas as leaders.
While every Masthead leader has a different journey, the lessons drawn from their experiences remain similar: leadership, communication, and, most importantly, the ability to have fun. It’s safe to say that no matter your role, The Choate News is a unique environment in which you will learn more about yourself than you ever thought was possible.