When I sat down to write my very first column in August 2022 as a high school freshman, I was incredibly excited, even if I didn’t fully know what I was doing yet. Back then, I thought my main goal was simply to share local stories and experiences with my community, treating each new piece as a fun way to practice my writing. Looking back at everything I have done and learned since that first piece, I realize this space quietly became a mirror for my own growth. Every milestone and personal reflection helped shape the person I am today. I initially believed this column was primarily for the readers, but it turns out it was exactly what I needed for myself.

Writing this column helped me slow down and really process what was happening around me. Four years ago, my world felt much smaller, centered entirely around the quiet rhythm of Teller County. Sharing my thoughts here taught me how to look at the world with a much wider lens. It pushed me to think more critically and to understand that the future is something we actively step into. I learned how to confront new perspectives and find a voice I did not know I had.

Through this column, I also learned the true value of community and connection. Sharing my personal insights each month meant opening myself up to the community, and my greatest hope has always been that these pieces might have inspired someone, sparked a meaningful conversation or simply offered a comforting perspective to whomever picked up the paper. Realizing that our individual stories are all connected made me appreciate the people around us even more. Every article served as a steppingstone for my own confidence, helping me grow from a quiet high school student into someone ready to face the future.

Now, a major new chapter is officially beginning for me. For those who may not follow my monthly updates closely, I am preparing to head off to college this fall. I am incredibly excited to share that I will be attending Rice University in Houston.

While moving on to college means my time writing this specific space has wrapped up, the tradition itself is staying in the family. My younger sister plans to take over this column to keep this perspective alive for the community. Because we grew up together, we share a lot of the same style, but she has a wonderful, distinct voice of her own. I am absolutely thrilled to pass the torch to her, and I look forward to reading her unique insights just as you have read mine.

Your support as readers has meant everything to me, and sharing this space with you has been an absolute honor.

Thank you for running along with me.

Ruth Wiseman is a Woodland Park native, a recent graduate of Colorado Early Colleges – Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak State College, and an incoming student at Rice University.