ALISHA BRILEY
MY JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE
MY JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE
I remember it vividly – one day after seventh grade basketball practice, my coach pulled me aside. Apart from being a middle school basketball coach, Coach Stalions was also the eighth grade yearbook adviser. When she called me aside that day after practice, I remember her words exactly: “I think you would be a perfect fit.” When I applied and got accepted for my eighth grade year, I had no idea how important yearbook would later become in my life. Right away, I absolutely loved the class, and I began taking on various leadership roles and responsibilities without being asked. Mrs. Stalions even called me her “go-to girl” when it came to problems that needed creative solutions. This was only the beginning.
Skip ahead a few years, and I was walking into my first day of high school yearbook class as a sophomore. There was only one single returning member on staff that year, so based on my application and various teacher recommendations, I was immediately thrown into the position of Section Editor. This put a lot of pressure on me; I quickly learned that high school yearbook differed drastically from middle school yearbook, and I was worried about how I would adapt to such a high-level position with having so little experience. Given that I was the youngest staff member in a position of leadership, I was also concerned about how I would gain the trust and respect of my elders in the class. All of these apprehensions faded rather quickly. After my first few weeks in class, the yearbook room had already become a home to me. I developed an overwhelming sense of belonging; this is what I really loved to do. Everyday, I looked forward to going to fourth hour, and I felt like I was surrounded by a family who shared my same passions. Everything was exciting to me, whether I was designing a new page, working to hit a quickly approaching deadline, or helping other staff members complete their tasks. Yearbook was a whole different world to me – a world apart from everything else and in which I felt like I truly belonged. In the beginning of my junior year, I received one of my biggest honors – an offer to take on the role of Editor-in-Chief. My adviser, Mrs. Orth, informed me that I was chosen because of my dedication, hard work, and obvious passion for the work I had been doing in the class. I was a little nervous to take on a position of such high responsibility, but Mrs. Orth convinced me that she fully trusted me and my abilities as a leader. That being said, I accepted the position and it ended up changing my life for the better. Being Editor-in-Chief for two years in a row has taught me so much more than I could have ever imagined. Yearbook has become engraved into who I am. I am extremely passionate about this class, whether it be the actual process of creating the yearbook or seeing the smile on students’ faces when they receive the final product at the end of the year. I am proud of all the work I have accomplished, the skills I have gained, and the people I have influenced in this role. The memories and knowledge I have gained in this course are some of the most valuable in my life. Although I feel that I have definitely made my mark on the Lake Orion Yearbook class, this mark does not compare to the enormous impact that yearbook has had on me. |
I have experienced so many things and made lots of new friends thanks to yearbook. These are some of my favorite pictures and memories from yearbook over the past three years.