Many people think that yearbook is just an easy, throwaway class. These people couldn’t be more wrong: a yearbook is harder than you think. Our 2024 Mountain View HS Yearbook staff are already hard at work building the book that will hold your memories.

First off, they need to learn how to use the program. “I’m a senior editor, and I help teach people how to work and use yearbook avenue,” said Cora Hodges, 12. In order to even start this process, though, the staffers need first to gather images. “I spend a lot of time trying to just figure out what the page will look like and get good photos,” said Zoe Klaman, 11.

Working in groups is important when working on a yearbook. You need to have good teamwork and people skills. “Some things you do are working as a group, scouting people for photos, also fixing the mistake toward the end of the due date,” said Leslie Romero,11. According to Alyssa Sava, 11, the hardest thing to do is “Getting pictures from people.”

Being part of a community comes with a list of pros and cons; some people like it, and others prefer being by themselves.“I really like to be part of the community.” said Romero. “I talked to my friend, and the yearbook sounded like a fun class,” said Klaman. “In middle school, I was in the yearbook, so I decided to do it through high school, too,” said Sava.

Everyone loves to see the finished product of the yearbook and all the hard work they put in. Hodges said, “Seeing the final product of the book and everyone’s hard work.” Romero talked about the excitement of seeing your clubs in the book, “Looking at the track page cause I’m in track also watching it come together.” Seeing the more popular events like homecoming is definitely a plus, not to mention the individual class pages. Klaman said, “Seeing the senior page come together.”

Financially funding the yearbook is always a struggle, as the book pays for itself but not completely. To account for this, each student has to sell one ad to the community that will be put in the back of the yearbook. Students have varying opinions over this, but it ultimately comes down to the fact that yearbooks will forever be connotated with high school memories–and it’s essential that the yearbook staff properly captures the high-school experience.