Editor-in-Chief Jacob Landau, ’22

Sylvia Plath is said to have been a memorable soul—which should come as no surprise to anyone who has read The Bell Jar. 

Plath, as a student of Wellesley High School, gave Elmwood Road sunsets more attention than they may have deserved, but in many ways it is her legendary sunset-watching that laid the foundation for Wellesley High School’s somewhat overwhelming concern with the study of humanities. An avid thinker myself—as I am sure all of you are as well—one question rises above all others when I think about Plath’s legacy: how would she describe sunsets?

Late English Teacher Wilbury A. Crockett, the namesake of Wellesley High’s third floor library, could answer this question easily: incorrectly. My English teacher, Mr. Esposito, let me in on this little secret one afternoon in December, in between conversation on Wellesley landmarks and Ernest Hemingway. According to Mr. Esposito’s legend, as told by a legend himself, Crockett confronted Plath about her poetry, and more specifically about her description of Elmwood Road sunsets. Plath did not relent, and the two of them decided to later watch the sunset together. Predictably, Plath was vindicated by this affair.  Years later, Plath earned a plaque on the third floor pediment and Crockett’s name decorates our school library. Fitting.

Often lesser names drown in the hubbub that revolves around our school’s most famous alumni. On wikipedia, you can find Plath, as well as Biz Stone, Twitter’s lesser-known co-founder, and a few poker champions here and there. Most notably, I would like to introduce you to a young man who was central to Red Ink’s founding, about whom I was lucky enough to learn only because of an email sent by his co-founder—this time of Red Ink. This man, whose name I will omit for privacy, was one of several students who joined Red Ink when it first took Wellesley High by storm in 2004. Being one of many peers interested in literature and all things human, this student devoted himself to exactly that—conversations similar to those I hope to foster in our weekly club meetings. And although many things have changed since his tenure at the High School and his unfortunate passing, it is less difficult to imagine Red Ink experience. Red Ink, despite all that has changed, has in many ways remained exactly the same; it remains a home for students eager to discuss literary matters.

Spring is a season of change. it’s a season of melting snow, rising flowers, and gorgeous landscapes. More importantly though, Spring is also a golden opportunity to decide what you will be keeping, what gloves you’ll drop or stow away for the next ski season, and what coat you’ll keep tied around your waist despite its utter lack of utility. Youth is an existential spring, and it is one that emerges in natural cycles throughout life. Spring is the rise of a new sun, of a new day, and of a new tomorrow.