Shane Junkermier works on his photo he took at a softball game. photo by Shane Junkermeier
The TJ Yearbook staff has many problems and issues to overcome this year, but they are working hard to create something amazing through these hard times.
With remote learning still in place and no confirmed end date, everything has been moved to a virtual platform. These transitions to virtual learning are hard to execute due to the abundance of technical and communication issues. Due to the difficulties of switching to a remote learning environment, there is no time to be wasted for students. Students who are a part of the TJ Yearbook Staff have been hit with the task of making the yearbook from home. Creating the yearbook virtually promises to be a major challenge this year.
Working from home might seem appealing to some, but when it comes to creating a school yearbook, that can pose many challenges, such as a lot of confusion and miscommunication between students, especially with those who are new to the staff. Caitlin Beery, the lead editor of the TJ yearbook staff, commented, “A lot is different about this year, one of them being that we are not together. It makes it really difficult to make sure that everyone on staff knows what is going on.” The whole virtual learning experience definitely causes major hiccups in producing the yearbook; since the staff cannot speak in person, they have been forced to adapt to communicating via technology. Beery further mentioned, “Getting photos for clubs and academics has been a challenge that we are still working to overcome. Access to equipment like cameras and photoshop is definitely different.” Adding on to the adjustment of virtual learning, getting photographers the equipment they need is a major obstacle to overcome. The initial issues that the yearbook staff was facing seemed very intimidating, but that was just the beginning.
The process of taking pictures for sporting events has changed tremendously. With social distancing in effect and many more procedures to follow, there are many unanswered questions regarding how photographers should approach it. Shane Junkermeier, a new photographer to the TJ staff, described, “We’re only allowed one photographer per event, obviously following social distancing and wearing proper things such as masks.” Junkermier continued, “There’s also certain areas where I have to stay away from, making the process difficult.” The event Junkermier was referring to was a softball game he recently attended. With photographers having difficulty getting the shots they need, it makes the process a little harder.
Due to the anxiety and eeriness that COVID-19 has created regarding social gatherings, taking photos at athletic events can be uncomfortable for yearbook photographers. Junkermeier added, “There’s a little bit of worry that goes around, but the events I’ve gone to haven’t been too jam-packed.” He mentioned that “you sign up on your own,” meaning that there is no requirement for the staff to go out, making the process more comfortable for those who are in it. Since fewer photographers are going to events, it creates another intimidating problem to overcome, being that the staff needs a certain amount of pictures to complete the yearbook. “Unlike other years, we have become reliant on the TJ community to send us their pictures,” commented Beery. Of course this sounds scary to hear, but it also shows how the yearbook staff is working with the community in order to adapt to this difficult situation. The staff is not in it alone. Since the whole yearbook staff is working hard alongside the TJ community, completing this intimidating task shows how determined they are, and how the community at TJ can come together during these difficult times.
Lea Wagner, the new yearbook teacher at TJ this year, mentioned how TJ students can contribute to the yearbook. “We would love for students to send in lifestyle photos of what is happening in their lives!” Using the link below and the login ID provided, TJ students can submit pictures and get in the yearbook. Submitting photos would help the yearbook staff tremendously.
Overall, the yearbook staff has a lot of challenges to overcome. With all the issues involving virtual learning and COVID-19, it is easy to lose hope. That being said, the yearbook staff still has a lot of hope and ideas to make great things happen. You can see and feel the hard work they are putting into it. After explaining the tough circumstances, Beery finished by saying she still has “a lot of confidence that we will produce a high quality book that captures the stories of this year.” Wagner as well commented saying “ I’m inspired by them each week we work together. This is a very unique year, and I’m excited to see how our yearbook staff captures it!” There is no doubt that the TJ yearbook staff will pull something great out of this bizarre year.
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