To our amazing readers,
Hello, and goodbye. My name is Jessie O’Leary, and I am the editor-in-chief of Runaway Bulldog. Today marks my final issue, the passing of the torch, and my time to thank you all for such a wild ride.
I started to write with Emma, the founder and original editor-in-chief of Runaway Bulldog, at the beginning of my junior year. She ended up handing over the reins to me in March 2020, and I knew that I had big shoes to fill. It just so happened that the week after my first issue, the entire school district shut down after the onset of the coronavirus. Talk about throwing me to the wolves.
I wanted to stay true to the voice of Runaway Bulldog, while continuing to cover relevant news in Bedford. It was not an easy task. COVID-19, AP vs IB, the fight for equality, mask mandates, sports, and much more all kept me on my toes. And when that wasn’t going on, it could be hard to write about current events. You know, when everyone was sitting at home, social distancing. Where’s the drama in that?! (Just kidding. Please don’t torch me on Facebook.)
It was certainly a learning curve, but I ended up writing some issues that I’m still very proud of. I am so grateful for the people who read every article I published, and gave me such positive and constructive feedback.
Thank you for continuing to support this website. Thank you for giving me a platform to report on important issues in our town, and room to grow as a writer. I believe that the news is a powerful tool now more than ever. I still think it’s incredible to hear someone mention the website in passing, see that someone posted about it, or discover that my teachers and peers are subscribers.
And of course, thank you to the person who passed this down to me, and who I will pass this website down to. It’s in your hands now.
Jessie O’Leary
BHS 2021
Boston University 2025