Yearbook Releases Epilog 2021 (And Yes, It's Physical!)
Editor-in-Chief Sera Aktas ‘21 relaxes with a copy of Epilog 2021 and her dog, Wall-E.
By LISA FARLEY
Ah, a high school yearbook. A reflection of the four years of hard work you have endured. A book that stores our memories, inside jokes, and farewell wishes for generations to come. The latest edition of Epilog, released this month, sums up 2021 in one word:
“Adventure,” said Ms. Keisha Darius, an English teacher and the Yearbook advisor. “This year has been quite an adventure. With the cover, we tried to display adventure at Midwood and any possible adventure the seniors will experience after Midwood.”
As in previous years, the yearbook will be available as a hard copy. Seniors will be able to pick it up at school along with their cap and gown.
Though the physical edition itself has stayed consistent, this year’s yearbook class functioned quite differently due to the pandemic. Instead of collaborating in person, students used Zoom breakout rooms, Google Forms, and Canva to communicate ideas.
“We shared ideas, showed our designs in class, and gave feedback as to how something could be improved,” said senior Sera Aktas, one of the editors-in-chief. “Free resources such as Canva were very important to us because websites like that made it possible to bring an idea to life.”
Leanne Huang ‘21 broke down what a day in the class looked like.
First, the team began with a full-class meeting with Ms. Darius and editors-in-chief Aktas and Vannessa Wong. “Class meets would be for making sure everyone is caught up on what to do, and for announcements from Ms. Darius on what her expectations are moving forward, whether for that week or before a deadline,” Huang said. Students often worked with partners and were assigned different sections each day.
Teams would then “ask questions, share ideas that we've brainstormed, and get input on it,” Huang said. “We would brainstorm with one another and go through Pinterest, as it offered wonderful inspiration. Once you've got an idea and you’ve waited for enough responses from students, it’s time to log onto Walsworth or Canva, where you begin designing. On some days, you won't be able to get all your work done within that period so it does become an after-school activity.”
This yearbook class definitely faced many challenges, but the greatest hurdle of them all was finding content.
“Content, content, content,” Aktas said. “Without content, there is no yearbook. This year, the yearbook was created 100% fully remote. We didn't have any opportunities to collaborate with one another in person; it all had to be done through Google Meets.”
“Reaching out to the graduating class to get photos, quotes, and responses was very difficult,” Aktas added. Many of Midwood’s 900-plus graduating seniors did not provide material, so it was hard to fill the pages.
“With people at home, senior spirit was difficult to gauge,” Wong said.
Even more than other classes, Yearbook class thrives in an in-person, back-and-forth, workshop environment. Relying on Google Meets made this year’s process a challenge. Still, the end result was satisfying.
“Even though we faced many obstacles, I believe this year's yearbook is unique and special,” Aktas said.“This was the first yearbook in Midwood's history to be created fully remote, and I am proud to be part of something so honorable.”
Ms. Darius said, “My favorite part has been collaborating with students on creating something that will be applied to Midwood’s memories and legacy. Seeing students evolve because of the Yearbook, and seeing seniors in their glory, is amazing.”
As far as advice for rising seniors considering joining Yearbook next fall, Huang said, “Reach out whenever you need help or feel uninspired. Ms. Darius and the rest of the yearbook staff will be there to help you. Don't shy away from giving criticism, and don’t be afraid of receiving it.”
Wong said, “Be aware of the difficulty you may face. Whether it's collaboration, gauging spirit, or coming up with ideas and compromising, know that Yearbook is not just a ‘free’ class; it's a lot more stressful than what people may think. But it is a fun experience with new things to learn.”
“Be the most creative version of yourself,” Aktas said. “Yearbook is all about creativity, new ideas, and proposals. Without creativity and new ideas, every yearbook would look exactly the same. However, every graduating class's yearbook is unique in its own way.”
“Be accepting and understanding of constructive criticism,” she continued. “You will create many designs, and they won't all be perfect. Your fellow staff members will help you make it perfect. That’s why Yearbook is a class of thirty.”
“We all want the best for each other,” Huang said. “Give it your all because it is the final year of high school and it's your shot at transcribing all the memories and experiences that have been accumulated by the graduating class.”