I’m going to be honest, I could have never imagined myself to be in a journalism class. I remember going through the elective sheet at the end of my freshmen year. Nothing really stood out to me, so I decided to give newspaper a chance because a lot of my peers recommended it, and as cliché as it sounds, that was the best decision of my life.

For me, the best part about newspaper is the people. Conversations about the oxford comma have allowed me to find my best friends and I’ve never felt a more welcoming environment. It’s always something I look forward to going to every day. Not to mention, Mrs. Webster is also one of the most understanding teachers you will ever have. She is more than just our advisor, she’s our mentor. Although being on staff for only a year, I’ve had so many opportunities to allow me to improve as a writer and even explore this new interest of mine.

Now I understand that some of you guys might not be that appealed to writing. Well, good news is that you don’t always have to write in newspaper. In fact, there are people on staff before who have never written a single word. From podcasts to photography to even videography, there are several other options for you.

Let’s not forget some of the perks that you get for being in this class. Firstly, you get to get into sports events for free and even be on the sidelines taking pictures! Also, there are all the field trips you get to go on. My favorite memory from last school year was definitely FSPA, since the trip really bonded our staff together. Now, I’m not saying this class is a guaranteed A, but if you put your time and effort into it, you will get something good from it and hopefully enjoy it as much as I do.

Looking back, I’m glad I made the decision to join the staff. Newspaper has personally helped me grow as a person and if anyone asks me my favorite experience in high school when I’m older, it would definitely be something that happened inside of Room 250.

Every year students do the same thing: get up, go to school, study, and take tests. Though that is the whole reason you are going to school, 10 years down the line, you are not going to look back and reminisce about all the homework, projects, and burnout. What you are going to remember are all the fun times. Hanging out with friends, embarrassing stories, football games, homecoming, prom, the list is endless!

When you are rummaging through your closet one day you might come across the very time capsule of your high school experience; your yearbook. The yearbook is a physical documentation of everything that happened each school year. Regardless of where events took place, the year bookers work tirelessly to make sure everything is covered.

Every year this new book, different from the last, magically appears. Many people do not think about the behind-the-scenes of creating a yearbook, and it is a lot of work. All year a group of students dedicates time both during and after school to keep up with events, latest trends, and people around the school. Between writing, designing, and photography, the team is always looking for more people to bring new perspectives to creating an amazing book that people can cherish forever.

In yearbook, students get to collaborate with others and learn valuable social and technological skills that will help them advance in their careers in the future. In the classroom, you will have the opportunity to find what skill set fits you best through different creative opportunities. In yearbook you will learn how to design with the adobe suite, take photos with canon cameras, and strengthen your skills as an interviewer and storyteller.

Additionally, joining yearbook gives you an opportunity to get involved in the school community, and get premier access to various events around school. The team also works in various workshops throughout Florida to continue to strengthen our skills and learn from professionals about how to be better journalists. Whether you are a social butterfly or a shy bookworm, the yearbook can be for anyone, so do not let nerves get in the way of you trying something, because who knows, you might just love it.