Senior column: Eagle Nation Times Editor reflects on building the print newspaper, personal growth

Cate Emma Warren, Editor-in-chief of Eagle Nation Times|May 18, 2023

A collage of photos features senior Cate Emma Warren with family and friends. Warren will be attending Louisiana State University in the fall majoring in Biology. “Every person in ENO has learned the importance of the truth, of authenticity and owning your own work,” Warren said. “I hope that ENT can continue to be an outlet for students, journalists, teachers, administrators and people of Prosper to find that sense of truth. Thank you for allowing me to learn with you, make mistakes, and lastly, thank you for helping make me who I am today.”

As I look to the end of my senior year, I have to reflect on everything that has led me to where I am today. Many say ‘everything happens for a reason,’ and I can prove that almost everything does. I have been a part of about 10 extracurricular activities this year, being a leader in six of those. That has not come without difficulty. Everything had to be managed with a perfect balance. However, as I near the end of the year, I would have to say I do not regret one moment. I would not go back and not join as many groups, or volunteer less, because each and every activity I am in has shaped me to be who I am. That’s one of the most important truths you need to know about me, I am dedicated to everything I am in. That is what makes it so hard to say goodbye.

If you told me that the classes I had chosen in the summer before my freshman year would be what led me directly to where I am now, I would not recognize the person I’ve become. I was in Theatre I my freshman year, and now have accomplished being the historian of the theatre department and a stage manager for five productions. I joined photojournalism my freshman year to continue my passion of photography, and now I have been able to revive print news at Prosper High School. I am still on the girl’s lacrosse team where I was able to visit Houston for state and come in second place. I also achieved my Girl Scout Gold Award. Overall, this is certainly not how I originally pictured myself when graduating. I would not have been able to achieve this type of experience or education at any other place.

I have learned so much from high school. Being able to drive, walk from one side of the school to another in under seven minutes, and most importantly how to learn. I do not mean how to study, create flashcards, or learn about a new formula – what I am referencing is the ability to learn from experiences, from self-discovery, and from ambition.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to not let your own self-doubts hold you back. Be confident in yourself and your passions. Then, you will be able to go farther – on your own – than any kind of Ted Talk or motivation from anyone else might lead. Your own mind and your own heart are what should drive your work ethic.

Eagle Nation Online to Eagle Nation Times

When I first came up with the idea for a print newspaper, it wasn’t something I thought would actually be possible. I had the idea because I was so tired of people not knowing our school had an online newspaper. There are so many people who have to work behind the scenes, whether it’s in a club, in a band, on a sports team, or in theatre. I wanted those people to be recognized. There are so many talented people on our staff and even more amazing articles and photography that are rarely recognized by our own student body. That is who I made this for, those journalists, and those students who feel like they are just working in the background. They all deserve a spotlight.

Creating the print newspaper took a lot of work to get off the ground, from figuring out funding, where to print the magazines, creating a staff, and deciding on what type of print we wanted — which ultimately led us to the magazine layout. I’m honored to have been able to work with seniors Maya Contreras and Nora Vedder this whole year on the magazine. We’ve worked together on how to layout the design for certain spreads, worked through completely trashing an issue, to early morning meet ups making sure our final draft gets sent to the printer on time. I owe everything to them. Without their hard work and persistence through my detail-oriented brain, ENT would be nowhere near where it is today. My only hope moving forward is that others will be able to see how much we have grown from each issue to the next. Even as we look toward handing off the leadership to a new board of wonderful journalists. Every person in ENO has learned the importance of the truth, of authenticity, and owning your own work. I hope that ENT can continue to be an outlet for students, journalists, teachers, administrators, and people of Prosper to find that sense of truth. What is journalism without that?

Thank you for allowing me to learn with you, make mistakes, and lastly, thank you for helping make me who I am today. Thank you for a magnificent four years. Those years are something I will never, ever forget.

Signing off,

Cate Emma Warren

Author’s note: Below are some of my favorite photos I’ve taken for ENO from the first I published to one of my most recent photo slideshows.