Senior Emma McCloskey is a member of the yearbook staff. The school yearbook staff is a team of students who create and publish the school’s yearbook each year. The yearbook has several aspects of photography, writing, design and editing, to capture the school year’s memories.

To join yearbook, you must take the Intro to Pub class. 

“I was really nervous. I was hesitant to go into yearbook. I don’t really know what motivated me to do it. And all of that summer I was so nervous because I was like, what if I’m not as good as everyone else? What if I don’t like it, what if I don’t fit in and then I just go into it. And I loved it. Just the design aspect especially was my favorite,” McCloskey said. 

Last year was McCloskey’s first year on the yearbook staff. She took intro to publications in tenth grade which helped her to contribute to last year’s yearbook.

“I really did my best to help out. Like participate with everyone. Really, I feel like I spent most of last year just kind of learning everything and doing my best with what I was learning. I took a lot of pictures. And designed a lot of spreads, and I also helped out my friends if they needed pictures or if they needed a quote,” McCloskey said.

McCloskey and the rest of the staff decide how and what they want to include in the yearbook like highlights of the year, events, student achievements or candid moments.

“It’s usually group decisions. Like for my pages individually, I mess around a lot, and I’ll try so many different things. I get the opinions of a lot of people. In the end, whatever I like is usually what I go with on my page, but everything else like the cover and the end sheets are all group decisions. Made by the team,” McCloskey said. 

McCloskey, as well as the whole yearbook staff, make it a set goal for themselves to try to cover various events and activities, aiming to feature as many students as possible. 

“It can be really hard. Sometimes we usually start with seniors, and then you go into people who bought the book, but this year is going to be a priority that we do try to include everyone because we want to make sure everyone’s represented. It’s a big school, so it’s hard. I think if we could all work really hard at it and make it our top priority, we can do it,” McCloskey said. 

McCloskey has had her ups in the yearbook staff.

“Definitely the friends I’ve made. And mostly it just became a huge passion of mine. I found out I want to go into graphic design because of that. I love the design aspect of it. That’s my favorite part,” McCloskey said. 

McCloskey has also faced challenges in the yearbook staff.

“Deadlines. That was probably a big thing last year. I didn’t realize how much it was going to be so at the beginning of the year just really overtook me. But I feel like I’ve learned how to work that into my schedule. And also I feel like  you have to go and collect interviews and pull kids out of class. And sometimes that can be nerve racking because you’re talking in front of everyone. But I feel like now I have a little group I go with and having people with me it just helps as support,” McCloskey said.

Overall McCloskey’s experience on yearbook has impacted her positively.

“It has made my high school experience so much better, because ninth grade was my COVID-19 year, And then going into tenth grade I was so nervous. And I didn’t really know anyone. I was very quiet and yearbook just brought me out of my shell. Completely. And it’s just it’s made my entire high school career so much better,” McCloskey said.

Anyone considering joining yearbook should be prepared.

“It is a lot of work. It’s a big commitment. You need to dedicate a lot of time to it. But if you’re passionate about it, it’s totally worth it because of everyone you meet and the companies you get to enjoy” McCloskey said. 

McCloskey plans to attend college next year for graphic design and photography.