The Life of a Yerd by Nicole

The Life of a Yerd by Nicole - April 2022 Scholarship Essay

Urgent conversations, a mix-match of colors and fonts splayed on tables, an air of determination and thoughtfulness in the room; this is a typical day in the yearbook staff.

What most fail to realize is the diligence and detail-orientation that is required to produce a yearbook. For the past three years, I’ve experienced the tireless nights of searching for students in jumbled images and how a pica can change an entire spread if careless. As editor-in-chief, the boundaries that yearbook has pushed me in have shaped my thoughtfulness and engagement. Although I consider myself an introvert, I spend hours confidently speaking with representatives and staff members inside and outside of school. I communicate/collaborate with sixth graders to high school seniors, despite moments that call for me to make a decision that others won’t agree on, but have to take for the sake of the publication. I’ve acquired time-management skills to complete spreads and pages on certain days, which I’ve translated to my academic workload and has helped me gain greater control of my studies.

It’s these moments that have taught me the communication, time-management, and leadership I need to be a successful student and individual in my upcoming future. Yearbook has enriched my view of people, memories, and behind-the-scenes interactions that have expanded my communication and understanding of the world.