YEARBOOKS are either a nightmare or a great dream. Not many know what goes into making yearbooks – they are more than pictures and a bunch of names. A lot of work goes into making the yearbook, more than anyone ever thought. “I like hearing the stories of the kids. What they’re experiencing, and how the Granger community affects them,” Sydney Bell (12) said.

The yearbook is supposed to show how Granger has affected all of the students. “I like the designing of the yearbook. I want to make sure this year is a memorable experience for everyone when they look back,” Bell said.

“I like the creativity I can show. The design this year is really cool. The theme is kinda like a journey. Like a road trip, travel-themed,” Bell said. The theme this year is a fun idea with one base topic that can branch into so many different directions.

The yearbook takes work that is also fun for the students. “There is a program on the computer called Yearbook Avenue. We put in text boxes and picture places. We put photos and type up interviews into there. Once that’s done, we get it printed,” Bell said. It’s a fun and an easy process that students don’t really think about.

“Yearbook helps kids learn how to talk to people. Just hearing people’s stories helps you connect to people more,” Bell said. Yearbook helps people become more social, which is something students struggle with. “You’re not just a student. You are here to learn about people and feel connected,” Bell said.

Joining the yearbook comes with benefits. “I can control what’s in the yearbook. We get to design and choose what we want to put in it,” Haley Koopman (12) said. What students see in the yearbook is based on what the students choose to share with the yearbook staff.

“It’s a pretty easy class to pass. All you do is go get the interviews and photos. But it also requires a lot of after school time,” Koopman said. It’s not that difficult but time after school is needed to really get the work done.

“It’s cool how you choose a page and you get to design it. So you know what the page will look like when it’s finished,” Koopman said. “Each person is assigned their own page. They just design it how they want it to look.”

It’s easy to assume that yearbook kids don’t really get any work done. “A lot of people don’t see it if they come into class usually, but we are getting a lot of work done,” Ruben Brown (11) said. Yearbook kids are hard at work trying to pack the yearbook full of all the Lancer students.

“We put together templates. We have other people assign them to take photos and get interviews. We get those kids to put them on the pages,” Brown said. A set of guidelines helps kids know what to get, but still allows them to show individuality.

“It is a lot of work but it’s not that hard as long as you do it,” Brown said. Like any other class, a lot of work is given but as long as the work gets done, there is nothing to worry about.

“People should try out yearbook. Definitely. It’s fun as long as you get your work done. I like the yearbook. I’m planning on taking it again next year as well,” Brown said. Yearbook is interesting enough that students are willing to take it again.