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

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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

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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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A typical day on T he Odyssey staff Opening the door to the yearbook room, I felt as if I were engulfed by a wave of bedlam. Quickly scanning the room, I found the normal buzz of activity. Rulers being chewed, thrown, and otherwise de- stroyed, the phone ringing, layout sheets covering all of the desks, and the usual “dull roar” of ideas, thank yous, and gripes. With a sigh I thought, “Contrary to what other people around campus think, there is a method to all of this madness. They eant understand how a bunch of teenagers with a lot of imagination and a camera can capture the whole year in a tangible form with any style at all.” As I placed my books on a clean desk, Allen Academics yelled sarcastically across the room, “Madame Editor, will you come over here?!” After I finally made my way across the room, which was no easy task considering all of the cases of Cokes and pickles lying around, I asked, “What seems to be the problem?” “Well,” he commented, “I don t have a clue for the Math department. I just can’t get my brain to ‘function’ in the math mode!” Laughing at his pun, I could sympathize with his problem. “Veah,” I replied, “I know how you feel. Sometimes it is impos- sible to be Creative . . . especially when you are being forced to be Creative on the spot — like you are with deadlines ap proaching. Let me think about it for a few minutes and l ll get back to you.” Hearing my name being called from across the room by Penny Personalities, I began to wade through all of the clutter again. Commenting to anyone who would listen to me, I said, “We ve got to do some- thing with all of this junk. Are we selling Cokes today?” Laughing, Mrs. Spunky Sponsor com¬ mented, as she replaced the rece iver and kicked off her shoes, “I hope so; do you know how many Cokes we have to sell to pay for one Federal Express package?!” I laughed at her joke, remembering the day that she figured out how many Cokes it really took to send just one package. It was such an outrageous figure that the whole staff got a big kick out of it. After I finally got to Penny, I hoped that she was only having a minor problem. Flashing her sweetest smile, she said, ”1 know you aren’t going to believe this but “What,” I inquired. “I ean t fit this headline right.” she re¬ plied. Laughing, I replied, “Well it looks to me like you can do one of two things — re draw the layout or rewrite the headline!” Seeing a look of desperation on her face, I turned to the class, “Hey guys, listen up,” I yelled, “Someone think of a head for the freshman section.” Immediately someone piped up, “How about ‘A Fresh Idea’!” Groaning at her pun, I turned around to talk to Ann Assistant Editor. “Look at these proofs,” she exclaimed, “They are wonderful!” As I flipped through them, a sense of pride welled up inside me. They were ex¬ cellent. It seemed that even with all of the adversity of deadlines, late pictures, and money problems, the book was coming together with a flair I had never anticipat- ed. With a sigh of relief I whispered to myself, “I think it’s going to be great ” The crazy style of yearbook staffers shines through as Senior section members. Cyndi Trout, Lisa Smith. and Blythe Patton discuss pians for layout. They say that hysteria is the first sign of insanity. Sponsor L. Lynn. Design Editor R Spigener. Photography Editor C. Wil liams. and Editor-in Chief K. McGee. beg to differ; yearbook is the first sign of insanity! Junior Michelle Oliver tries to prove to her fellow Academics section members. Kim Cook. Amanda Mayo. and Lauren Bryant that yearbook can be fun! Business Manager Shannon Baronette tediously pours over receipts and checks. Trying to balance the yearbook budget proved to be a job that took a lot of time and a flair for numbers. r