What I’ve learned from The Register

Mackenzie Coughlin, Staff Writer

Over the course of my high school career, I have learned many valuable lessons that I
will carry with me for the rest of my life. Being a part of the newspaper staff for three of my four years at Central has opened my eyes to countless new people, experiences, walks of life, and irreplaceable laughs. For my last ever story that I will write for The Register, I have chosen to reflect on what I have learned while being on the newspaper staff.
Probably the very first lesson that I learned very quickly after joining the newspaper was
that it is good and needed to get out of your comfort zone. From being the type of person that
wouldn’t stand up in the lunchroom without planning ahead which trashcan I would walk to, to being someone that gets excited to try something new, I am very proud of the person I have become. Without having The Register to push me to conduct interviews and dive headfirst into things I knew nothing about, I would have never explored past what is comfortable and normal to me.
Secondly, I have learned that it is normal to have different opinions than those around
you, and you should be proud to share what you believe. For the longest time, I agreed with what everyone said, even if deep down I questioned it. I wanted to please everyone. Now, I view it as a time to learn from others and give other people knowledge on what you care about. Having differing opinions is a time to spark conversations and growth, instead of tearing others down and to conform to your views.
Thirdly, from being a part of The Register staff I have learned to be welcoming to
everyone I meet, no matter what. You never know what someone else is going through in their life, and simply having a conversation and connecting on a topic could change their entire mood. It could even be how you meet your next best friend.
Lastly, it is always so important to try something new in life. Whether that be an activity
from sewing, to swimming, to starting a business, attempting a task that makes you grow and learn can only benefit you in the long run. Even if you mess up or feel like failing, what matters is that you pushed your boundaries and broadened your horizons.