So, I'm a yerd. Shocking, right? And for those who aren't aware of what this funny sounding word means, it simply smooshes the words 'yearbook' and 'nerd' together. Hence, yerd.
Therefore, I spent five glorious days this summer at Cal State Long Beach in really (REALLY) close quarters with my editorial staff, at a camp for us yerds called Yearbooks At The Beach. And it's just what it sounds like; several hundred yearbook kids live at the college for a week, don't sleep, drink WAY too much coffee, and pull their hair out trying to come up with a theme that the yearbook gurus approve of. We woke up at 6:30 every morning to grab some breakfast, and then go to our individual classes. I took the EiC (Editor in Chief) 24/7 course, and learned how to not become a crazy, power hungry leader, but rather, one that staffers can approach. After those classes, we had master classes with everyone else. After THOSE classes, we had "free" time, and went back to our dorm to work on our theme packet for this year's upcoming book.
I spent a total of 13 hours in my individual class, and 11 hours in master classes and working under the yearbook gods, making my total amount 24 hours. Just ask Mimi.
Contact Info:
Mimi Orth
morth@herffjones.com
(626)798-1680
I walked away from this experience, armed with tons of mock spreads and massive amounts of knowledge about how to make my book perfect. But in no way do I feel like I have all the answers. For example:
- How do you know to STOP working on a spread; when do you know that it's done?
- What are some ways that we can make sure that everyone gets covered equally (I don't want some people to appear in the book 13 times, and some not to appear at all...it's happened.)?
- How do you deal with the negative comments that people give to you when the book comes out?
- How do I get people to stop complaining about the fact that a majority of our book is black and white?
- How do I break away from the same look that our book has always had?
- How can I motivate my staffers that couldn't care less about yearbook?
- How can we make sure that most of our books are going to sell?
- What are people looking for in the book? How can we make the same ideas look new?
- How can I stay sane, and keep my editorial staff sane, too?
- What is the best way to stay organized and make sure that all of our deadlines will get turned in on time?
Not having the answers to these questions freaks me out. I can feel all of the eyes of the senior class on me every time I work on something yearbook related. The pressure might kill me, but I know now, after the grueling week at camp, that my editors have my back. Always. We all became super close; "we was like peas and carrots!" I feel much more confident going in to this school year with my seven new best friends cheering me on every step of the way. THAT is the most important thing that I walked away with...aside from our theme packet. Which basically outlines next year's book for us. I guess that's essential, too.
I've always loved yearbook, and camp really sparked that passion even further. I knew what my senior project was going to be ever since Mr. Strand called me to inform me that I had been chosen to be the EiC. Now, I can't wait to get started on this book, and it is something that I truly think the student body is going to love, and open up again in a few years and say, "Yeah, I remember that. Oooh, look at how pretty this spread is. Emma made it." Or something along those lines.
And thus, begins my adventure of senior year and the 2012-2013 yearbook.
