Dear, Future Archers

Dear Future Archers,

“The Arc” was born out of chaos—a bright Monday when life threw me a curveball. I wasn’t there to hear the announcement, tucked away in the school medical room as my name was called: President of the newly-formed Religious and Tolerance Department. The title hit me like a storm—unexpected and overwhelming. “Wait, what? That didn’t exist before, right?” I stammered as friends congratulated me. Confusion turned to panic, then a heavy sense of responsibility. Terrifying as it was, a spark of excitement began to flicker.  

When I met my team—a classmate and three juniors I barely knew—our first meeting was a cautious exchange of ideas. I pitched programs, hesitant but determined, and introduced a bold idea: a digital newspaper. The first student-run, bilingual platform in our city. Ambitious, maybe absurd, I braced for resistance.

Instead, there was relief.  

My team’s sighs echoed through the room like a collective exhale of unspoken fears. They confessed their doubts about their place in the department, their insecurities about being “religious enough” for the role. The newspaper, they said, felt like a lifeline—something neutral, something fresh, something that allowed them to contribute without the weight of expectations. In that moment, I realized I wasn’t alone in my uncertainty. We were all navigating the unknown together, and this crazy idea of mine wasn’t just mine anymore. It was ours.  

Over the next year, “The Arc” became more than a project. It became a haven. We built not just a newspaper but a team that trusted, laughed, and grew together. We found joy in the work, in each other, in the knowledge that we were creating something that mattered. A platform where voices could rise, stories could live, and our school could see itself reflected in words that belonged to us.  

To the future Archers: know this—you are stepping into something built with both trembling hands and unshakable hearts.  

Reva, MJ, Nenggo, and Dwi, our web developers and co-founders, was the architects of this dream. Where I saw scattered ideas, they saw structure. Where I stumbled, they steadied. They turned “The Arc” into more than just a concept; They made it a reality. Their resilience became the backbone of everything we achieved.  

We taught each and everyone of us, that innovation isn’t about knowing all the answers. It’s about daring to ask the questions.  

Dear Future Archers, 

Now, it’s your turn to carry the flame. You’ll face your own storms, your own curveballs. You’ll doubt yourselves, and that’s okay. Doubt is the soil where resilience takes root.  

Remember that this isn’t just a newspaper. It’s a legacy. It’s the culmination of our fears and dreams, our failures and triumphs. It’s a testament to what happens when a group of ordinary students dares to create something extraordinary.  

And when the nights grow long and the deadlines loom, when the weight of responsibility feels too heavy, look around. Your team is your anchor. Your passion is your compass. You are not alone.  

So go on, future Archers. Write your stories. Build your bridges. Blaze your trail.  

And when the time comes to pass the torch, may you do so with hands steady and hearts full—knowing that you, too, have left your mark on “The Arc.”  

With all the hope in the world,  

Syakira & Reva

Founders and 2024’s Chief and Web Developer of The Arc