Issue 6-Final

Features 5
Farewell to Ava and Presley,
The Hourglass’ Editors-in-Chief
Thank you, Ava and Presley, for an amazing year at The Hourglass, and we can’t wait to see what the
future holds for you.
By GRACE HALAK ‘22 and LAVENDER HUANG ‘22
Here at The Hourglass, we’re
all sure of one thing: the
show doesn’t go on without
our Co-Editors-in-Chief,
Ava Olson ‘21 and Presley Daggett
‘21. And what a show they’ve put on!
In the previous five issues of
The Hourglass, they have proven
themselves to be dedicated leaders,
enthusiastic journalists, and
supportive mentors by leading the newspaper
to a better and brighter future.
One of the ultimate tests of a good
leader is how they handle adversity…
and a global pandemic is probably as
adverse as it gets. In a year that seemed
to be defined by separation, in the forms
of cohorts, Zoom meetings, and socially
distanced desk, Ava and Presley,
still managed to make The Hourglass
into a unified, supportive community
that persevered through every obstacle.
Ava and Presley truly understand that
The Hourglass was created to celebrate
Baldwin students’ voices. They quickly
adapted and developed new organizational
methods that enabled The Hourglass
to run as smoothly as ever during the
pandemic; this meant timely reminders,
well-structured meetings, and comprehensive
issue progress spreadsheets that
helped writers and section editors alike.
Ava and Presley are dedicated
leaders who encourage writers to step
out of their comfort zone and challenge
themselves, all while cheering them
on and helping them in the process.
Ava was truly the life of The Hourglass
this year. Her persistent positivity
and humor kept the energy high and
the atmosphere light-hearted during one
of the most challenging years we’ve all
had to face. Her comments on articles
and edits always provided constructive
criticism to enhance the piece, and
her discussions in pitch meetings always
strived to find interesting angles
for any possible articles. Most importantly,
she’s incredibly approachable
and always willing to help; she treats
everyone as a friend and an equal.
Presley is a natural-born leader. She
steers every meeting and discussion with
assured confidence that exudes capability
but never seems overbearing or imposed.
That capability is best showcased in her
excellent articles and pitches, which always
bring fresh, creative ideas to the
newspaper and serve as the stellar example
of her leadership. Talking to Presley
always leads to insightful conversations
and helpful advice. Presley sincerely
cares about her work and the newspaper;
no matter how small the task at hand, she
always gives it her full attention, and her
dedication was invaluable to The
Hourglass’s growth this year.
Together, Ava and Presley
made an unforgettable
team. Their hard work,
passion, and personality
have been vital to The
Hourglass and everyone
involved, and their
leadership and synergy
will be missed
in the years to come.
Although saying
goodbye is always
bittersweet, we know
that Ava and Presley
will accomplish
amazing things, and
we look forward to
what their futures
hold. It has truly
been a pleasure working
with Ava and Presley, and
we hope to make them
proud in the coming
year of The Hourglass.
Design by Trisha Yun‘24 • Photos courtesy of Presley Daggett ‘21 and Ava Olson ‘21