Blog 23: Final Lesson Reflection

1. Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your block presentation and/or your senior project? Why?

I’m most proud of my senior presentation as a whole. I feel that I did my best work during this presentation. While I was in front of the class, I calmly and eloquently presented on my content. I constantly referred back to my array of sources, and gave personal experiences in the relevant areas. My activity was engaging and proved to be an enjoyable experience for the viewers, and those who followed their leader roles successfully taught my best answer to their groups.

2. Questions to Consider

a. What assessment would you give yourself on your block presentation (self-assessment)?

AE    P       AP    CR    NC

b. What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)?

AE    P       AP    CR    NC

3. What worked for you in your senior project?

My mentorship worked extremely well for me, which was the yearbook elective. This allowed for me to apply all the lessons I learned in research to a real-world environment, which provided me with a treasure trove of supporting evidence for my essential question answers. The convenience was great because I was able to kill two birds with one stone. It also allowed for me because I tend to stress out easy, and the fact that I always had time set aside for mentorship really helped me keep calm and keep sane during times of high stress (yearbook deadlines, projects, essays).

4. (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your senior project if you could go back in time?

I definitely would’ve wanted to have tried to get yearbook approved for my mentorship earlier on, or at least figured out another way to get my mentorship hours. I thought I was confined to figuring something out with my previous mentor (Rebecca Chai, yearbook advisor for Walnut High School). I also would’ve started working on my second independent component much sooner, because we only had three months for magazine issues. This was more of a lack of foresight on my part. I hadn’t anticipated how hard it would be run a magazine on top of all the projects and extracurriculars the juniors and seniors had in second semester.

5. Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors? Be specific and use examples.

While I don’t plan on pursuing a career in journalism, I’ve learned my limits when it comes to leadership. This was a test of my prowess, the culmination of all the group skills that I’ve learned in my years at I-Poly. Managing the yearbook staff has been the largest undertaking of my life, and I’ve enjoyed every single moment of it. I’ve seen how I handle conflicts among staff members , or group members. There were a few instances in which staffers were unsatisfied with their teammates (I won’t name names), so I had to figure out a solution that would: A, solve the original issue, and B, not hurt anyone’s feelings.

Blog 22: Mentorship

Literal

My mentorship hours have been updated and properly detailed, and can be found on the sidebar of my blog or by visiting the following link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14sU5AIA8UI23SbV8Ku4E95j5MSeMrKp00dYnnbcYhmg/edit?usp=drive_web#gid=0http://

My mentor was Shawn Strand, and he works at I-Poly High School.

Interpretive

While I don’t necessarily plan on pursuing a career in the field of journalism, the most important thing I gained from my senior project was an opportunity to gauge my leadership skills. I had never before been in charge of such a large group of people, and for such a major task, so it was interesting to learn how I would handle certain situations. This was truly a lesson in delegation, and learning to let things go. While I had my direct contributions to the yearbook (as far as design and photos), I couldn’t be “in the trenches” the entire time. I had to learn when to hand off tasks to other staff members, and to trust that they’ll be able to succeed without micromanagement. When the year began, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to keep this up, because I have a tendency to just go in and do the work myself in project groups. However, I didn’t always have the time or the means of doing so, which helped me learn to let go. Not all work will be perfect. Not all content will be in on time. A good leader is aware of these facts, and works with them. In looking back, I feel confident in my performance.

Applied

My essential question deals with the best method of leading a staff, while keeping morale high and ensuring that the yearbook is a success. My mentorship mostly supported my first and second answers. I have to lead by example, which is a portion of my second answer. As a leader, I am the emotional rock for my team. If I’m visibly stressed, it’ll demoralize the staff. I let my stress slip through a few times, and it in turn made the staff even more stressed for the deadline, and the class environment became tense each time. As far as organization goes, this year was the most organized the yearbook staff has been in years. We used Google Docs, texting/calling, and eDesign to their fullest extent, allowing everyone to communicate well and be kept in the loop. Both Strand and Mimi have commented on how much more smoothly this year has run because of our organization.

From the start, I saw how implementing a shared vision improved the staff morale. I noticed how much the staffers improved in their work ethic, because they felt a personal dedication to the ideas of the book (since they contributed to its concept). Each staffer had input on decisions we made as far as coverage, and design. This made them more motivated and put out better quality work, which I believe has resulted in an excellent book. However, I won’t definitely know whether or not this book was a success until they’re distributed on the 29th.

Blog 21: Exit Interview

1. EQ: What is the most effective method of managing a yearbook staff, while promoting morale and the success of the book?
1. Answer 1: A successful editor-in-chief establishes a shared vision with his or her staff, using the philosophy of employee engagement.
2. Answer 2: A successful editor-in-chief organizes his or her staff using various media and a hierarchical staff structure.
3. Answer 3: A successful editor-in-chief implements a consistent system of training in journalistic skills.
4. My best answer is Answer 1, Because a shared vision gets people involved in the publication on a psychological level, creating a sense of duty to the publication and an intrinsic desire to make the publication perfect, therefore motivating them to put their best effort into their work. It's the perfect combination of staff morale and book success.

2. I arrived at this answer by researching the best methods of increasing staff morale, because I know that morale is vital to the success of any organization. When I came across the concept of “shared vision” in several articles, I knew that it was something many professionals find to be effective. I applied the lessons I learned in articles to the yearbook elective, and my staff has been much more engaged than they have been in three years. They showed more interest in the decision making process for the book, spent more time actually doing work, and in general were more dedicated to the yearbook. As a result, I dare say that we’ve created the best yearbook since my freshman year.

3. Although I technically did have a mentor, whom I used only for interviews, I couldn’t actually get service learning hours at her place of work (she’s the Yearbook advisor for Walnut High School, and they held Yearbook during the regular school day). For the entirety of first semester, I had zero mentorship hours. This was a major source of stress for me, because I had no Idea where I could’ve gotten these hours. I suppose I could have put in extra effort into getting a mentorship with the CalPoly student newspaper, or a local newspaper closer to where I live, but these would’ve been added (and highly unnecessary) sources of stress. After pleading my case to the senior teachers, I managed to make an arrangement for Mr. Strand to become my mentor, and yearbook elective time to be my mentorship. Gaining yearbook class time as my mentorship is probably one of the turning points in me maintaining my sanity.

4. Most Important Sources
1. Kruse, Kevin. "What Is Employee Engagement." Forbes.com. Forbes Media LLC, 22 Sep 2012. Web.
1. This was the article where the concept of employee engagement was first introduced to me. It’s been the foundation  for my first answer, and its importance has held up after dozens and dozens of articles.
2. Branson, Richard. "Richard Branson on Increasing Employee Engagement." entrepreneur.com. Entrepreneur Media Inc., 11 Aug 2014. Web.
1. Richard Branson offered a plethora of useful tips on how to increase employee engagement, but this article didn’t just support my first answer. It provided methods of implementing all three of my answers in a business, and had them intertwined in a way, because you need all three of my answers to truly succeed.
3. Lam, Krystal. Personal Interview. 19 Feb., 2015.
1. I had to throw in this interview with last year’s EIC, because she was such a valuable resource throughout this whole year. Whenever I had a question about yearbook or senior project or anything, she was available to answer them. Much appreciation.

The Dust Has Settled

It’s done.

The Yearbook has been submitted.

The Avengers have defeated their enemies, and all is once again quiet and peaceful in the world.

But my work isn’t over yet. Just as a fire crew must train to be ready for the next fire, just as a team of superheroes must sharpen their powers and teamwork to be prepared for the next supervillain, so must I train my staff to be ready for next year. Now that the book has been submitted, it’s spring training time in the Yearbook world. Our Herff Jones representative, Mimi Orth, has several workshops and teas/lunches that are meant to train editors and staff members. You may be wondering, “But Elijah, if the yearbook’s done, what the snozzberry is everyone doing during the elective?” I’ll happily answer that question, Willy Wonka.

We, the Avengers, have defeated Loki, H.Y.D.R.A., Ultron, and Thanos (Deadlines 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively).

Currently, the staff is deep into Fakeline training. Fakeline is a genius little project, and it is what it sounds like. It’s a fake deadline (former EIC Elissa Fultz coined the term), and it simulates what editors go through during yearbook camp, except Fakeline is much more gracious and spans about a month (unlike yearbook camp’s 5-day length). Malorie and I divided the underclassmen staff into three groups (the seniors get to sit back and relax). The three prime candidates to succeed me as Editor-in-Chief are in charge of these groups. Each group has to create their own theme packet, and basically brainstorm an idea for a whole new yearbook. They have to create a theme that IPoly students would be able to relate to, something that embodies the IPoly spirit for that year. They also have to create a cover, opening spread with opening theme copy, three content spreads, endsheets, and ideas for alternative coverage modules. At the start of each block, I give a lesson to help the Fakeline groups in developing their themes, and sometimes Strand takes the opportunity to help here too. Elective blocks have been structured as follows: Theme/copy/design/photo lesson for 15 min., Fakeline worktime and check in on all the groups/offer feedback, then for the last 10 min. I have a classwide recap. The most creative and most viable theme packet wins, and the group gets... something. Haven’t really decided what the prize will be yet. But it’ll be awesome.

This is team leader Madee Doctor, with the yearbook resident artificial plant, Robert Plant.

This is also the time of year where we do more staff bonding activities. Every year, we always try to sprinkle more ice breakers and fun activities throughout the year to keep things like, but with our small staff elective times almost always end up being work blocks. The editors and I are working on planning a staff laser tag day, we may go bowling, and we’ve even been able to do more fun ice breakers.

My reign as EIC is coming to an end sooner than I thought. As I train my staff, I see innovative, bright, fresh minds, who I feel safe leaving the yearbook legacy to. We have some promising underclassmen on staff. The future of yearbook is bright.

The Avengers have assembled. And we're ready to take on tomorrow.

Blog 19: Independent Component 2

LITERAL

A ) “I, Elijah Garcia, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 31 hours of work.”

B ) The following sources helped me in the completion of this independent component:

• Dodd, Julie. "7 tips for starting your own magazine." ThoughtsOnTeaching, 20 Jun. 2013. Web.

• Newell, Susan. "How to Start a High School Newspaper." schooljournalism.org. ASNE's Youth Journalism Initiative, n.d. Web.

• Strand, Shawn. Mentor.

C ) My Independent Component 2 Log can be found in the sidebar of my blog, or by clicking this link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14sU5AIA8UI23SbV8Ku4E95j5MSeMrKp00dYnnbcYhmg/edit#gid=0

D ) I have founded and run IPoly’s first student-run magazine (well, first to my knowledge). I have recruited a staff, developed the artistic and journalistic vision for the publication, designed spreads, and managed the staff in general as we worked towards the completion of each publication. By the time I submit this independent component, my staff and I will have completed two issues of “Ink&Paper” Magazine, one issue for March and another for April, but  The magazine staff has received club certification, and is set up in a format that would allow for this club to continue after I graduate, for years to come.

INTERPRETIVE

It isn’t easy to create, manage, and publish a journalistic publication. It takes time to gather a staff and to generate content that is both unique and meaningful to the target audience, which is the IPoly student body in this case. Once the content has been created (all of the interviews have been documented, copy has been written, photos have been either taken or, if found, properly attributed), then all that’s left is to design the spreads and cover. Designing takes an especially long amount of time, because photos must be arranged in a visually appealing manner, and copy must be placed in a way that makes it readable yet interesting. Once everything is actually complete, the publication must be reviewed by the staff and analyzed to ensure it’s safe to be published.

I have posted a link to the Ink&Paper account on issuu.com, which will serve as evidence of the 30 hours of work.

APPLIED

This independent component looks at my EQ, “What is the most effective method of managing a yearbook staff, while promoting morale and the success of the book?”, from a different angle. While I wasn’t managing a yearbook staff, I was managing the magazine club staff. The objectives of both are similar, in that they set out to produce a journalistic publication focused on students. The difference with this independent component is that my staff of 8 others, plus my co-captain Maylon, all had to put in special effort into joining. This isn’t for a grade or for pay, they joined because they wanted to make a great magazine (I’ve yet to tell them that Strand will be rewarding them with community service hours). The motivation and dedication of my staff serves as reinforcement of my first answer, “A successful editor-in-chief develops a shared vision with his or her staff, using the philosophy of employee engagement.” My staff and I developed this magazine’s format and agreed on what we would cover in the content sections. Since everyone was equally involved and had an equal say in how the magazine was run, nobody really shirked their work. There haven’t been any personal conflicts that have needed resolving, unlike in yearbook. Also, everyone already in the fields they chose to work in, so dealing with my third answer (which has to do with training) wasn’t an issue. The designers already knew how to work with InDesign, and our photographer has had ROP experience. They were all dedicated, and though we haven’t advertised the magazine as well as we could have, we created a product that we’re all proud of. That checks off “promoting morale” and “success of the [product].”

Thanos Imperative: The Big, Bad Final Deadline

Here we are. The final deadline of the yearbook. The home stretch. If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll remember that in I’ve given nicknames to each deadline, and that these nicknames are all based on major Avengers villains. Deadline 4 is named Thanos. Don’t know who Thanos is? I’ll give you a quick lesson: Thanos is an egotistical, overpowered, psychopathic cosmic titan/demigod who seeks out the six Infinity Gems, which will grant him ultimate control over all planes of existence, in order to wipe out half the population of the universe (as well as most of the Marvel superheroes) and please Death. In other words, Thanos is a tough guy to beat.

Hulk, Spiderman, AND Wolverine? Thanos is one baaaad mamma jamma.

The story of Thanos and the Avengers is relatively parallel to that of this final deadline and my staff. A good two-thirds of the staff are upperclassmen. Juniors have been busy with the higher volume of project work they’ve been assigned, and senior schedules have been jam packed with mentorship, projects, and otherwise preparing to take on the beast that is life after high school. The middle of second semester always gets heavy at IPoly, but this year the timing is especially rough on yearbook.

The thing about this last deadline is that if we’re late at all, the production of the yearbook gets pushed back. That means students get their yearbooks at a later date than they would’ve, had we been on time. This is always a tense time for the editor-in-chief, because when people get anxious or frustrated about waiting to get their yearbooks, it’s always the editor-in-chief who bears the brunt of the anger. I’ve been sure to crackdown hard on the staff the past few elective days, since this is the most vital deadline of the year.

This is the most EIC-like picture of me that I have. Note to self: need more of these.

However, do not fear! The Avengers and company DO manage to defeat Thanos and prevent him from destroying all sentient life in the universe. Just as my staff and I will complete Deadline 4 on time. And might I just say, it’s shaping up to be excelsior.

As the amazing Stan Lee's famous catchphrase goes, "Excelsior!"

Blog 18: Fourth Interview Questions

1. What would you consider to be a key factor in determining a “successful” yearbook staff?
2. How do yearbooks win Pacemakers/other yearbook awards?
3. How do schools sell enough yearbooks for the yearbook to be considered a commercial success?
4. Which kinds of Editors-in-Chief have you found to be the most successful, and why? (Charismatic, stern, etc.)
5. What methods of staff training do you find to be most effective?
6. What would you consider to be the most difficult aspect of managing any staff/group of people?
7. How would one organize a large staff in the most efficient way possible?
8. What is the importance of staff morale?
9. Would you consider morale to be more important than productivity? Why or why not?
10. How would maintaining a shared vision with the staff benefit the outcome of the book?
11. How does a hierarchical structure benefit a group’s organization, in general?
12. What role does the editor staff play in keeping a staff organized and in check?
13. What yearbook staffs from recent years strike you as having been successful? Why?
14. What one aspect of the Editor-in-Chief’s duties is the most important? Why?
15. How should an Editor-in-Chief go about dealing with a staff that lacks motivation?
16. What is the best way to deal with conflict among the staff?
17. How best can one lay the groundwork for future staffs?
18. How best can an Editor-in-Chief manage deadlines and ensure a timely submission?
19. Is it possible to properly balance staff morale and the success of a yearbook?
20. Ultimately, which would you consider more important: a successful yearbook or a happy staff?