Retired Yearbook Nerd

That’s me, a retired yearbook nerd. When I started college I had no interest in the yearbook. When I finished it was a huge part of me. I spent three years at the MSU Red Cedar Log, the nation’s largest published yearbook at 21,000 copies for the 46,000 students at MSU. It’s a huge 400-page, full-color book that students essentially don’t pay a dime for. I won’t get into here, but it ended in a pretty bitter experience. But I’m over it (sort of) and can look at all the cool stuff I got to do.

This morning I talked to the 9th and 10th graders yearbook class and then the 11th and 12th graders yearbook class and photography class. This was my first time talking to high schoolers on the trip and I loved it. Ah high school. What a time it is in life. I shared quite a bit about my trip experience thus far and then talked about my yearbook experience at MSU where I was a photographer for two years and the photography editor for one. I’m not sure if yearbooks are a very popular thing in other countries. It’s great to see all of these kids working hard (well some of them). The editors had to lay it on the staff a little bit while I was there. I remember those days. Lots of deadlines and responsibility. I was quite jealous of all the photo equipment they had and the photography class. At Baraga there was no photography class and the yearbook was an after school activity, also not a class. It was refreshing to see high school through their eyes as I looked at some of their photos and layouts. I’m sure it’ll turn out great.

So yes, I’m a yearbook nerd, or a retired one at that. But who knows how many times I’ll draw on my experience for future jobs and even traveling this year.