Caddo Magnet High School - Odyssey Yearbook (Shreveport, LA)

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When the going gets tough, the tough get going oing, going For those unacquainted with the pres sures of being a yearbook staffer, it might have seemed to be a glamourous job. Those in the know would have begged to differ. “Yearbook wasn’t exactly as I ex pected it to be,” confessed Kim Cook, a member of the academics section staff. “I tried to prepare myself for the work but it’s deceiving. You don’t realize how big a job and how demanding it is until you are in the midst of it. I was and sti li am surprised at the amount of time and energy yearbook takes.” “I don’t really know what I expected yearbook staff to be like,” said senior staff¬ er Shannon Baronette. “I had heard every- one say how tough it was, so I wasn’t shocked by the amount of work. I guess I was kind of surprised to find out how many pickles we have to sell to pay just one bili!” With all the work required of a yearbook staffer, it took a special breed of person to be successful at producing an excellent book. “I believe a successful staff member should definitely be a hard worker, dedi cated, dilligent, and organized, ” comment- ed junior staff member Michelle Oliver. “Definitely!” agreed Layout Editor Roddy Spigener. “I would also add matur- ity and patience.” Maybe so, but Editor-in- Chief Kristy McGee had her own on ideas about what made her successful at year¬ book and what prompted her to join the staff. “I was a glutton for punishment,” joked Kristy, “with a sense of adventure.” On the more serious side, Kim revealed her reasons for joining the Odyssey staff. Td always wanted to be on yearbook. It’s a good learning experience which, no matter how tough it’s gotten, 111 never regret be¬ ing a part of. I’ve grown to love making this book. My goal right now is finishing our book and being able to say, ‘Hey, there’s part of me in here!’” she stated. Definitely, being on yearbook staff had its encourag- ing moments - as well as its times of de- spair. “Probably the highest point is when the yearbook actually comes in that s when you get to see an actual tangible product of all your toil and tears. Its lowest points are those times when you just can’t be Creative and you wish that you could ‘trash’ the whole thing,” philosophically remarked Kristy. “The highest point in the year would have to be when the yearbooks finally arrive. The lowest point would be deadlines,” expressed Roddy. “The highs are hard to define,” com- mented Michelle. “They are the people - in many different ways. It’s just their person- alities. Also, I like the togethemess. The lows ... I honestly can’t think of that many. The disagreements and scoldings we cause ourselves. And those aren’t real¬ ly lows - it keeps us in line.” With the see-saw emotions yearbook was capable of producing and all the re- sponsibilities required of the staffers, would any of them go through it all again? “Yearbook has taught me to get along and work with a group. And it really will help me in the future. (I hope!) But as far as doing it again • no, I really don’t think so,” admitted photographer Lauren Beacham. 188 • Organizations

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The Renaissance Consort creates Rebirth of Culture ni xr ] As teacher and sponsor, Mr. Yenger provides the enthusiasm needed to make the Renaissance Con sort a success. The Renaissance Consort group practices for an upcoming performance with classical instruments and song. Students (seated) Marci Perini, Cornelia Jones, (stand ing) Sandra Bardwell, Kim Cook, Patrick Hearron, Andrea Holmes, and Juanita Pollard dress in their hand-made traditional costumes and capture the spir- it of the Renaissance period. The Applied Music Renaissance Consort is a small group of dedicated students which brought a cultural revolution to the Magnet campus by imitating the music, the customs, and the attitudes of the Renaissance civilization. The students, taught by Mr. Stephen Yenger, learned to sing classical songs such as “Non Nobis’ and to play instruments such as the recorder, the xylophone, and the fin- ger bells. They also made their own authentic costumes and performed for several English classes and fine- arts survey classes on campus. En¬ thusiasm played a major role in the success of the class. Mr. Yenger now hopes that the class will grow next t year enough that a Renaissance club can be formed. I Closeup Renaissance • 187

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] Fired up with its own special style, the ODYSSEY staff rushes to the rescue. Members of the staff in¬ clude: Stephanie German, Michelle Oliver, Lauren Beacham. Lauren Bryant, Kim Cook, Amanda Mayo, Cyndi Trout, Lisa Smith, Sharla Skinner, Annelise Christensen, Melissa Mitchell, Shannon Baronette. Devra Sladics, Leslie Bordelon, Carol Williams. Roddy Spigener. and Kristy McGee. Blythe Patton didn t miss many deadlines, but she missed this picture. She was probably off fighting another fire — or did she take a wrong turn at the station? Tm doing the best I can but that doesrft seem to be enough. I don’t think I could go through this agam. Shannon agreed up to a point. ‘I don’t know if I would join the staff again or not, she said. Its tougher than most people realize but it has its rewards also. As bad as things get and as mad as everyone gets at each other, we ali end up helping each other out again. We become even closer and better friends for it. That has to be worth something. Some staffers thought this and other gains of yearbook were worth a great deal. They were ready to do it ali over again. Do it again? asked Kim. Of course. The second time is bound to be better. I’d know more of what to expect and what was expected of me. I d know how to handle the pressures better. Yearbook causes distress and Ive cried about this book many nights, but I know, in the end, it’s coming out will be the best reward Ive had. No one said it wc ild be easy. Odyssey» 189