Happy New Year, everyone! I’m Nina Zhu, and I’m the Student Life Editor at Sword & Shield. I hope you all had a wonderful winter break and a wonderful year filled with rest, fun, and holiday cheer. We’re excited to welcome you back for the new year and the upcoming second semester!

We’re starting 2025 off strong with articles both reflecting on last year and looking forward to the new year. If you’re looking for some 2024 nostalgia, our Entertainment section has compiled lists of the best songs, albums, and movies of last year. The Sports section has been looking at the 2024 F1 season as well as this year’s. With our 47th president soon to be inaugurated, read our editors weighing in on whether presidential inaugurations should be more interesting, his cabinet, and as January 6th comes up, his criminal charges and a reflection of that pivotal day. As Demonstration of Learning week comes up, our Student Life section has tips on test-taking to help you all achieve your best results and manage any stress you have. We also have news on the devastating school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School last month, exploring the impact it has had on our community, ongoing investigations, and the discussions it has reignited about gun control.

It’s been a pleasure to report on the latest news in our community and beyond this year, and I can’t wait to continue in 2025. We hope you all have a smooth transition back to school and stay warm in the coldest month of the year. Best of luck on your DoLs and have a great month!