Throughout high school most people fill their times with clubs, organizations and sports, as did I. But one thing that specifically sticks out in my head about my high school years is being a part of my incredibly inclusive, supportive yearbook publication. There are multiple reasons why I am grateful that I walked into the journalism lab two years ago asking to join yearbook.
1. I can work Photoshop. What's better than creating a funny Photoshop project of your best friend's head cropped onto someone else's body? Not much.
2. I am a consistent winner when we play "lost." If you're familiar with this form of hide-n-go-seek, you'll know how competitive it is. I now know the back-roads of my town better than I'd ever thought I would.
3. I can sing just about any Disney song knowing that at least one staff member will finish my sentence. Whether it's Hannah Montana, The Little Mermaid or Aladdin, it usually breaks out into a High School Musical style sing along.
4. I can go up to just about anybody and ask them whatever question needed without feeling nervous or embarrassed. After two years of interviewing every type of person imaginable, I have gained the confidence to get just about anybody to share their story about said topic.
5. I have learned time management skills. With deadlines just about once a month, I have learned to balance all of my clubs and activities while maintaining everything that needs to be done with yearbook related things.
6. I have figured out ways to keep my stress level under control. Sometimes going to yoga once a week, spending time with my staff outside of the journalism lab or simply spending time with my sisters, my stress has been somewhat managed this final year of school.
7. I have consumed more Jimmy Johns than the average human. Not literally, but one day I will stop eating sandwiches because of the unhealthy amount of J.J. I ate late at night during deadline weeks.
8. I constantly satisfy the perfectionist side of me. The intense editing of spreads has allowed me to comb through every page of the book with a fine tooth comb multiple times in order to tweak it just how it needs to be.
9. I have strained my eyes looking at a computer screen for hours on end. Really, one time I was sitting at a computer for about 11 hours straight. But it's all worth it in the end.
10. I have spent more hours in the journalism lab than anywhere else in the school. From dedicating three out of my seven class periods in the lab, it truly is my second home.
11. I found another family. I've discovered multiple families in high school throughout different clubs and activities, but none is like my yearbook staff. We have every type of personality and I will forever be grateful for all the lessons, trips and tricks I've learned from all 27 of them.
