Disclaimer: Nerdy, sentimental post. I became editor-in-chief of my high school at the end of my freshman year after our incredible hard-working, talented and brilliant editor Paige Krafka. The summer before my sophomore year, our teacher got pregnant and a couple months into the year, took her maternity leave. Being completely in charge as a first-time-editor and the youngest person in the class, the year was nothing short of trying... we pulled through and distributed an award-winning book that year. That year I did 50% of the book alone. Junior year, the school went through a series of budget cuts in which they fired our teacher and threatened the retirement of the program, switching to a yearbook done solely by high school parent volunteers. After countless meetings with the principals and school officials... we worked out a deal to keep the yearbook with the help of two amazing teachers, Marisa Tuzzi Parks and Allison Motto as our advisors. Neither knew anything about the yearbook software or how to run a yearbook class and yet they were better sponsors than any id ever had with years of experience in the field. They were just incredible, award-winning teachers with a passion for helping and caring hearts. That year I did 70% of the book alone. Senior year, we finally got a sponsor and we were incredibly sad to no longer have Parks or Motto, but incredibly hopeful and optimistic as the new sponsor had a journalism and yearbook background. Very long, troublesome semester summarized, the sponsor ended up being even worse for the program than not having one at all and was fired before the first semester was over. I finished off the year as teacher and editor, along with the help of our amazing principal who offered help in all areas he could, and again... we finished the book, on time, and have it sent out for awards. I did 80% of that book alone with the help of Mariah Simank, Allison Hohimer, Emily Spelman and a few others. My publisher at Balfour (and biggest support/life-saver for the past four years and even still) was getting worried because we had no idea who was going to pick up the program after I left. Only one student in the entire program seemed fitting, based off her dedication, hard-work, heart and perseverance, and so we made Shelby Nicole Twixx the editor, though she was new, had never done it before and didnt have any knowledge in InDesign or Photoshop. The school asked one of the english teachers who had a journalism background to be sponsor, and it was probably the best decision for the program that the school has ever made. Tonight, Shelby just sent me 20 pages she has done for the book this year, and I havent ever been more impressed or amazed by something in my entire life. Picking her, was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made for the program. It is truly incredible to see someone with no experience in a field, make something so expert-like and wonderful. Thats what comes from someone who really cares. Whatever faults, whatever challenges our program has faced in the past few years, we have always had a handful of people who possessed those characteristics; the characteristics that truly matter in producing success. I am grateful to everyone in this post (and the countless people not mentioned) who cared enough to keep such an important and growing program alive, and for those in this post that are continuing to allow it to stay that way. The book is going to be one of the best yet and I cant wait for it to be another award-winner.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 05:00:11 +0000
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