retrospect (re-truh-spekt)
verb
1. (without object) to look back in thought; refer back (often followed by “to”)
2. (with object) to look back upon; contemplate 

The end of another semester is upon us and with it comes the call to look back and contemplate the semester — the lessons learned, the conversations had, and the friendships deepened. 

The Forum also calls for retrospection. Whether on beauty (Clare Horvath, “A Defense of Beautiful Churches”) or love (Megan Li, “It Is in Our Nature”), each piece contemplates how past authors, artists, and ideas inform the present. Throughout its pages, this issue applies this reflective perspective to cultural issues (Nathaniel Pekari, “Another Modest Proposal”; Jacob Schulz, “Dangers of Social Media”), art (Matthew Mehan, “XXX”; Jonathan Schulz, “Ghosts in the Crowd”), and the passage of time (Caroline “Anne” Love, “Wilting Flowers”). 

This issue of The Forum is also pleased to publish three of the 2024 Hillsdale English Department’s Creative Writing Competition winners: Anna Jackson, Grace Bryant, and James Lauve. 

Enjoy the prose and poetry, 

~ Anna Leman, Editor in Chief