We would like to start by saying that this editorial will not be about gun control. Hear us out. We took last issue to tackle gun control and school shootings via the editorial, and continued our coverage in this issue’s In Depth spread. So for this issue, we decided to take on an issue close to our hearts, something a bit lighter, though still profoundly relevant to students at CHS.

With 54 days until graduation, the Class of 2018’s time at Communications High School is definitely coming to a close. In a matter of days, almost all of the senior class will be committed to the college of their choice. Our peers are seeking their higher education across the east coast. And whether they’re going off to Boston, Washington D.C., South Carolina or staying in New Jersey, many of us will be living away from home for the very first time.

Over 300 students attend CHS, a home away from home. But, something else we all have in common is our true home: Monmouth County. And we have a wonderful privilege to live in such an amazing place.

Monmouth County, in our (probably biased) opinion, is the best place we could have asked to grow up in. Maybe because we have fond memories of our beautiful beaches since early childhood. Maybe because we’re less than an hour from New York City and its endless opportunity. Maybe because we have had the unique opportunity to attend high schools that help us hone our skills in specific areas of interest through MCVSD.

Take The Inkblot as an example. As student journalists, we have been able to freely exercise our First Amendment rights. With a supportive administration and a seasoned advisor, we have been granted the freedom to cover the stories and issues that matter most to us as teens, something that doesn’t always happen in a ‘normal’ public school. (If you don’t believe us, just reference Issue 4 of The Inkblot, which features a spread dedicated to Marijuana.)  

In a survey of Inkblot edit board members and the senior class, we’ve designated what our students consider the “best” of Monmouth County; these pieces of art or places are iconic to Communications High School and students’ lives.  

The film “Lady Bird,” directed by Greta Gerwig, won best movie of the year in our survey of seniors and the edit board. In the film, the main character, Lady Bird, hates where she lives. When it comes time to apply for colleges, she seeks culture and excitement at east coast schools against her mother’s wishes.

At this point in our lives, at the tender ages of 17 and 18 years-old, leaving home is exciting and new. For most of us, Monmouth County has been our home all our lives. And like Lady Bird, some of us are eagerly awaiting the new experiences and cultures in a place that’s different from here.

But by the same token, many of us will feel nostalgic and sad when August rolls around and we have to leave.

If you’re in need of a taste of home or a reminder of Communications High School, take a look at the “Best of Monmouth County.” Get one more New Orleans coffee from Rook, another scoop of ice cream from Hoffman’s, a last slice of pizza from Esposito’s and take one last drive down Route 18 before leaving home.