16 Tips for Making a Go of it in The “Real World”

What Comes Next After College?

It was John Mayer who famously sang, “I just found out there’s no such thing as the real world. Just a lie you’ve got to rise above.”

Easy for a multi-millionaire rock star who’s dated people like Jennifer Aniston, Taylor Swift and Katy Perry to make such a statement, but what about the rest of us.

Yes, there is a real world. And if you’ve just graduated from college, you just entered it. No, it’s not an evil place. It’s actually quite nice and we think you’ll like it. There are just a few things to keep in mind as you move forward.

#1 Your education isn’t done

Sure, you graduated and everything. You’ve got your diploma (which we selfishly hope you’ve protected with one of our hand-crafted frames from Framing Success) but in life your education is never finished. Now that you’ve entered your field of calling be sure to stay up to date on everything that’s going on in it. More than ever, business is constantly changing and evolving. Most new grads don’t realize that many companies will pay for you to take advanced training. Seminars are great for not only learning but networking.

Ask your managers and HR what courses are available. Self-selected training serves as a strong signal of employee drive and can be the springboard to a thriving and fulfilling career. Just because your formal education might have ended doesn’t mean you should stop learning.

#2 Remember, Your First Job Isn’t Your Last

Job hunting can be stressful. But don’t make the mistake of thinking you’ll be locked into the same job forever. Don’t get stressed out about the type of position it has to be. Be sure to look at a variety of jobs and industries. Ironically, it will actually help you focus more on what really matters. Your first job will probably not be what you thought it was going to be, but the same can be probably said for the heads of many major corporations.

#3 Read Biographies of Successful People

Speaking of the heads of major corporations, many of them have written about what helped make them successful. The best way to walk in someone else’s shoes is to read their biography. What does Elon Musk do when he first wakes up? What was Steve Jobs thinking when he unveiled the iPhone? How did Benjamin Franklin respond to adversity? So, get off social media, start reading a biography, and learn first-hand from your role models.

#4 Be Ready to Work

Sounds silly, but one of the issues managers who hire recent graduates complain about most is how they have to spend a lot of time teaching them how to be employed. Show up on time, dress the part, prepare for meetings, complete work by the deadline, collaborate, communicate, etc. It may seem basic, but if you’ve mastered these skills, you’ll start at the top of the class.

#5 Be Ready to Relax

Growing up, schools dictated vacation time. Everyone was off together in the winter, spring, and summer. You had no choice. It was easy. In the real world, it’s harder to take time off, regardless of your company vacation policy. You must pick, plan and protect your vacation. Your rest ethic matters as much as your work ethic. Yes, rest ethic. Knowing when to rest and recharge is what separates the good from the great.

#6 Show Your Employer You’re Hungry

Take the time to learn your role well and ask for more. Show your new employer you’re hungry by kickstarting your learning. Offer to assist with projects, stay late, come in early, take on extra challenges or even propose a project. Even if you get shut down or told to go home, it shows you are excited to be part of the organization (and grow with it) and grateful for the position. Always go the extra mile.

#7 Find a Mentor

One of the best ways to accelerate your career growth is by finding a mentor who can help guide you through your early career and beyond. When interviewing with companies, be sure to get a feel for the leadership styles of those you will be working with. Is there someone who seems willing to help you get and stay on the fast track, or will you be relegated to finding your way alone? While it’s easy to focus on the money or the name of the companies you are interviewing with, don’t forget that your career is going to be constantly evolving. Having a person you can trust to help you navigate the twists and turns will be invaluable.

#8 Show Some Patience

While most of these tips are all about how to accelerate your career, you need to still keep things in perspective. You’re not going to be made boss your first year. Or your second. Or your third. As talented as you may be, one of the things employers look for in employees is knowing when to show some restraint. The “annoying kid” who keeps pushing for advancement before his or her boss thinks they deserve it can become a squeaky wheel. And while the old adage may be, “the squeaky wheel gets the oil” it can just as easily be said that the squeaky wheel gets replaced. That said, if you’ve been patient and think you deserve more but aren’t getting it, then talk to your boss, have a conversation. If it feels like there isn’t a future with that company, then move on.

#9 Experience trounces all

Getting a degree is great. But it isn’t everything. As Brian D. Evans, founder and CEO of BDE Ventures has noted, many industries care more about your abilities than where you went to school. “Many college graduates think their degree means they can instantly get a job in Silicon Valley. As someone who took the Zuckerberg path and dropped out, I’ve learned that our society has moved to more of a ‘what have you accomplished’ than a ‘where did you go to school’ mentality. A degree is nice, but you need to show real-world skills in competitive fields,” he said.

#10 Put Your Phone Down When Talking to Someone

Nothing says “I don’t care what you’re saying” like staring into your phone when you’re having a face-to-face conversation. Want a simple way to build the kind of character that will serve you well for a lifetime? Ignore your phone instead of the people you’re with.

#11 Don’t Ask to Work from Home Your First Week

Though more and more companies are offering options like this, it’s still a privilege, not a right.

#12 Be Confident, but Humble

Graduates are coming with new perspectives and learnings. Employers need to see a person who is confident in their skills and abilities. However, employers also want to see a willingness to learn and grow. The old may need the new, but the new also needs the old. While demonstrating all the necessary qualifications of the job, a graduate needs to show both an interviewer, as well as a new boss, that they have the humility to ask questions. Both traits go hand in hand.

#13 Choose Who You Associate with Carefully

Don’t spend all your time with idiots and then wonder why you can’t seem to find a nice person to date. Same goes with business as goes with your personal life. It’s just a fact that you will eventually run across someone in business who is either just a jerk or has few, if any, scruples. We shouldn’t have to tell you this, but we will: Stay away.

#14 Keep up With the Paperwork

Taxes, 401k enrollment, healthcare, apartment contracts, bills. Prepare to be inundated. Don’t ignore the paperwork. As with anything in life, you need to stay on top of it. It doesn’t go away. Especially the bills. If you have to, set aside a specific time each week to make sure the paperwork of life doesn’t bury you. It can very easily get away from you and then it becomes even more troublesome, which makes you want to avoid it even more, and before you know it you’ve got an enormous paperwork snowball rolling downhill out of control.

#15 Pay Attention in Meetings

In college, you may have been able to tune out in a class of 400 people for an hour, but if you try that in a meeting at work people are going to notice. And no texting under the table either. We can see that.

#16 Don’t let grumpy people drag you down

Don’t listen to people in their 40s who act like the best part of your life ended the minute you got your diploma. Is the real world all cotton candy and unicorn rides? No. But sometimes, misery loves company and will even try to recruit it. When you start a new job there will inevitably be a group of people there who don’t like their job and don’t like being an adult. Avoid these people like the plague. They’ve bought into the cultural misconception that a “job is just a job” and that you should only work for the weekend. Nonsense. Your job can be meaningful. Your weekdays can matter.

So, welcome to the real world. We’ve been waiting for you. Sure, there are probably plenty more tips for success we could have provided here, but hey, then you wouldn’t have anything to discover for yourself.

And cheer up. It’s only about 45 years or so until you can retire.

filed under:

New Adviser?

You’re not alone

All across the country, there are teachers in their first and second — and third — years as advisers who get to the end of the day and think, how in the world? It gets easier, but until then, here’s some advice.

TAKE IT ONE SPREAD AT A TIME

Conquer the workload by planning and charting out mini-deadlines for your students. Whether you decide to team them up or assign work individually, make sure they know that deadlines are safety nets. Without deadlines, the work keeps piling up.

FIND A FRIEND

Chances are, you’re the only yearbook adviser in your school and no one else quite “gets you.” Look for another adviser in your district or area. Perhaps your rep can help you find others who would be willing to take a text or phone call when you need a lifeline.

ASSIGN EVERY LITTLE THING

Reward staffers for all the little (thankless) jobs with weekly grades. Updating scoreboards with Friday night’s game, checking in with the Spanish Club sponsor, recording the marching band’s latest awards — it’s easy to gather incrementally, but tough to hunt down later. And, pics or it didn’t happen.

DON’T REINVENT THE WHEEL

There are lots of ways to yearbook, and we have loads of resources to help you find the way that works for you. Look for our weekly emails or go to herff.ly/adviser-assistance to see them all.

Read more blog stories like The Art of the Interview and Notes for Great Editors.

filed under:

10 Tips for Writing the Best Graduation Speech

Good afternoon everybody…

We won’t sugar coat it. Writing a speech is tough. It’s why people get paid big bucks to do this as ghostwriters for others. It’s why great lines from great speeches get passed down from one generation to the next.

But relax. You’re not the President of the United States addressing the nation trying to keep things calm after alien spacecraft have just landed on the White House front lawn.

Odds are, instead, you’re one of two things. You’re either the valedictorian (congrats by the way) or you’re the person who submitted their name and speech idea to the graduation committee and was selected to speak at graduation as well (so congrats to you, too.)

Now, about the speech. While it’s certainly up to you what you can say, we just thought that we’d pass on a few tips on how to not make your speech the kind that doesn’t have lines getting passed from one generation to the next – because of how awful it was.

So, with that said here are our top 10 tips for writing a graduation speech. And, some bonus tips for giving a virtual graduation speech.

1: Start out by thanking someone.
The fact is you probably didn’t make it through high school all by yourself.  Very few people, if any, do anything without a lot of help from someone else. So, show a little humility.

It’s always good to recognize parents, teachers and friends. But what might be nice to do instead is to publicly thank a specific person. One person who helped you, who made a difference and believed in you. Maybe it’s a coach, a counselor, a teacher or your dad. Whoever. Thank them in front of everybody. And then encourage everyone else to find someone who was instrumental in helping them make it to graduation and tell them to thank them as well.

2: Don’t make it all about you.
If you’re the valedictorian, then once again, congratulations. You did well.  But nobody really just wants to hear about why you made it to the podium and they didn’t. That’s not to say you can’t infuse personal observations in your speech, just don’t turn this into a “My life in high school” speech.

Matter a fact, instead of just crafting your speech in the cold confines of your bedroom, why not instead go out and talk to your classmates. Find out what they’re interested in. What has inspired them and what they’ll remember most. Your class’ graduation should be about all of the students, not just you. It’d be nice if your speech recognized all their collective memories.

3: Google it.
That’s what it’s there for.  Looking up famous speeches online is a great way to get inspiration. Whether it’s a YouTube video of comedian Seth MacFarlane’s commencement speech at Harvard (hilarious!) Or reading Winston Churchill’s famous “We shall never surrender” speech (goosebumps!) Seeing how other people have done things well in the past is a good point of reference for how you should be doing it today.

4: Keep it short and sweet.
Yes, your speech is important, or you wouldn’t have been asked to give it. But don’t go overboard. People aren’t there to see you drone on and on. They’re there to either celebrate their own accomplishments or the accomplishments of family and close friends. You don’t want people to be checking their watches during your speech or hoping you’ll hurry things up.

Therefore, don’t ramble on forever. Your speech should be no more than 10 minutes unless you’ve been given instructions otherwise. Think about how long do you usually sit still for a YouTube video? There’s a reason the more popular ones aren’t very long. Learn from that.

5: Don’t say anything you’ll regret in 20 years.
Matter of fact, let’s amend this to, “Don’t say anything you’ll regret 10 minutes after saying it.” Most kids who are selected to be graduation speakers are the kind who have always set a good example. That said, every year, there’s always a few who want to take a controversial stand, call out a teacher or administrator, or make an inappropriate joke. Hint: Don’t be that kid. Instead, write a speech you can show to your own son or daughter 20 years from now and say, “See, that’s how it’s done.”

6: Inspire your fellow students.
Commencement isn’t just about celebrating the fact that you finally earned your diploma. It’s also about looking forward to all the places life will take you after graduation. You want your fellow students to leave your speech feeling as though they’ve got the world by the tail and can do anything now that they’re graduates.

7: Don’t use famous quotes.
Famous quotes are great for yearbook entries, not graduation speeches. So, put the famous quotes book away. You are the graduation speaker. People want to know what you have to say.  The crowd doesn’t want to hear what Nietzsche or President Kennedy or King Ferdinand has to say.

8: Don’t write “what’s expected.”
If you write a speech that’s expected, then what’s the point in anyone showing up? If it’s something we’re all expecting to hear, then the odds are we’ve already heard it and there’s no need to hear it again. Be original.

9: Be specific.
Details make things interesting. There’s nothing particularly original or interesting when you say something like, “You know during our freshman year, we were somewhat unsure of ourselves, lost in this big school, and apprehensive about the future.”

But the details that can make it far more personal and relatable.

Example: “You know, it’s amazing how much we’ve all changed in the last four years. On my first day here at school, I could barely reach my locker. I remember thinking most of the senior football players probably were at least 28-years-old. And sadly, I got lost trying to find Freshman English and had to ask for directions – twice. Today, I’m proud to report that I can reach my locker, the football players don’t look older than I do, and I can find any class on this campus. And if all that’s true, just imagine how different will we all be two, four, or ten years from now.”

10: Make your final point your most important point.
There’s a reason we’ve saved this for last. Obviously. But the contents of your speech should all along be leading up to the final point of the speech – which will be the most important part. This should be the line that people remember, and that people take away from your speech. You can end it with a quote (not someone else’s famous quote – we already discussed that), a memory, or words of wisdom to impart on your class, just as long as you end it with a punch. The punch can be a funny story. It can be a snappy re-cap, or a call to action. Such as Kennedy’s inauguration speech where he said, “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”

In the end, your speech shouldn’t be overwhelming or daunting. Instead, just think of it as connecting with your graduating class one last time before you all go your separate ways. And, as a plus, if you’re planning a career which will involve public speaking, you can think of this as a great way to practice.

SHOP GRADUATION

filed under:

10 Things I Wish I Knew Before College

Heading off to college is an exciting time in one’s life. It’s when you really begin to feel like an adult – and people start treating you as one as well. It’s not just the independence from your parents that makes it exciting, you’re also beginning your journey of deciding what you want to do with your life. You learn as much about your future field of endeavor as you do about yourself. But, like with any new chapter in your life, there come unexpected revelations. Things that looking back on you might have said, “Boy I wish I’d known that going in.”

It’s with that in mind that we offer the following 10 observations on ways we think we can help you enjoy and get more out of your college years.

#1 DON’T GET BEHIND
If you’re on track to attend a post-graduate program, such as a masters or a doctorate, and your GPA is going to dictate which school you will be able to attend, don’t fall behind in hopes you’ll catch up later. You need to keep your GPA high for all four years. This advice could also apply to undergrads who won’t be doing any post graduate work in that you need to keep up with your classes throughout the year and not hope that cramming for the final will help save your final grade in a course. Besides, businesses also want to know what your GPA was on your resume, so don’t slack off.

#2 WATCH WHO YOU SOCIALIZE WITH
You don’t need toxic people in your life, and it’s so easy to get swept up in the social scene in college. Both from a partying point of view and from wanting to hang with the “cool kids.” Don’t hang out with people who treat you poorly, or with people who have bad habits, such as a history of partying all the time. There’s nothing wrong with having some fun, but that’s not why you went to college. You’re there to learn. Both from a scholastic point of view and from a social point of view.

#3 TAKE A RANDOM CLASS THAT INTERESTS YOU
College is a time to learn. Not just scholastically but a time to learn more about yourself. If there’s a class that interests you, or if there’s a class you hear has an amazing professor teaching it, why not check it out? Not every college credit has to be applied towards your degree, and sometimes you are paying for a certain number of credits anyway – whether you take them or not. So, even if it’s not something you think you’d like to do for a living it might be a nice break from the routine and keep things interesting.

#4 STAY HEALTHY
Just because you’re away from home and a parent is no longer pestering you to “eat your vegetables” that doesn’t mean you should let yourself go. There’s a reason you need to eat your vegetables, and there’s a reason you need to exercise. The “Freshman Fifteen” is a real thing. A healthy body can help sharpen your focus and build your self-confidence. So, make sure you’re exercising regularly and eating mindfully. Maybe get some workout buddies and turn it into a social situation. When there’s more than one person involved it makes it harder to try and blow it off.

#5 RENT A HOUSE
Freshman year you’ll probably be forced to live in a dorm, but after that you’ll be able to decide where you want to live, and while it may sound silly, by renting a house with other people you are forcing yourself to socialize with others and learning how to get along. By living alone, you can slip into anti-social behavior habits and find yourself spending an inordinate amount of time doing “screen time” by yourself. When you live in a home with others you’ve got a social network to support you if things get tough. And you’ll still probably have your own room for when you need some alone time. As an added plus, renting a house with multiple roommates is usually more affordable than renting an apartment and living on your own.

#6 GO TO YOUR PROFESSOR’S OFFICE HOURS
Some may call this “brown-nosing.” Those in-the-know call it a “smart move.” Your professors see hundreds, possibly thousands of students in their lifetime. Half the time their students are taking the course simply because the school requires it, not because they’re interested in it. That means most of their students aren’t even interested in what they’re teaching. So, if you want to stand out, stop by and say hello. They won’t necessarily automatically give you an A for doing so, but by making it known you’re interested in what they’re teaching they may give you a little leeway, or even give you some tips on how you can best prepare for their course and their tests. Also, in just four years or less, they won’t be your professors anymore, they’ll be your peers and they can possibly help you find a job.

#7 COLLEGE ISN’T SOMETHING YOU’RE JUST SUPPOSED TO “GET THROUGH”
That’s high school. College is a time when you’re starting to take courses in what you’re interested in doing for the rest of your life. Pay attention. The professors aren’t the old dinosaurs you think they are. Take advantage of all the opportunities your college or university provides. You’re paying for it. So, get the most for your money. Use the advisors. Use the help they offer when it comes to finding a job or internship. Pick your professor’s minds. Challenge them. “Doing the minimum” isn’t a great way to get the most out of college. Especially not when you’re paying the kind of money you are for your degree.

#8 MAKE FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE IN YOUR INDUSTRY
Are you going into chemical engineering? Then take a look around your chemical engineering class. These are the people who will be working in your industry. This goes for any industry. Make friends with the ones who seem interesting and smart. These are going to be the people who will be successful and they’re the ones you will want to know. They can be helpful down the road when it comes to either finding work or having a successful ally on your side.

#9 ACT LIKE YOU’VE ALREADY GRADUATED
And by that we mean get to know people in the industry you’ll be going into. Network with them like you’re already employed. Ask people if they’d be willing to meet you for 15 minutes some morning. Tell them you’ll buy them a cup of coffee in exchange for the opportunity to quickly pick their brain. People love to give advice to students, and odds are, if you asked the same question of five people in the same field, you’ll probably get five different answers. Different perspectives on things can be very informative. These little tête-à-têtes can also be a way to express your interests about any internships their companies may offer students over the summer.

#10 REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO
Too many people spend their college years floundering trying to find what it is they want to do with their lives. Now while college is certainly there to help you find your way, it’s not there to figure it out for you. The more you can put into college, the more you will get out of it. The sooner you can narrow in on what you want to do the sooner you can make connections and land internships. Because if you wait until your senior year, you’ll have wasted three years where you could have been networking, studying and finding job opportunities.

All in all, however, college is an exciting time. It’s your first big step in becoming independent and learning more about yourself. It’s also a time when you get to take classes that are specifically geared towards what you know you’re interested in. Just keep up with your classwork, don’t party too hard and you’ll have four years of memories to look back on fondly for the rest of your life.

filed under:

Notes for Great Editors

Find your truth in these gold standards

Your time is now. You’ve spent years working hard to help produce incredible yearbooks, but now you’re the EIC. You might think this is your opportunity to kick up your feet and watch everyone else do all the work. What you may not realize is that this is the most important job you’ve ever had. Here are truths of the most successful editors:

They know the importance of HAVING A PLAN. They think about what needs to get done, and they set up a plan to make it happen, working after school or during lunches with their adviser to ensure the publication runs smoothly. Their plan isn’t just for the yearbook staff, but for themselves. Highly successful EICs plan their own time, even in yearbook. They ask themselves, “When will I help other staffers?” and “Do I have a plan to get my own work done?”

They are the editor they needed when they were a staffer. Strong EICs don’t just happen without a lot of reflection. They think back to their first days on yearbook and remember what it was like knowing nothing and having everyone freaking out about deadlines. They are empathetic to the trials of being a yearbook staffer and are willing to help teach staffers skills, instead of taking it on and doing it themselves.

They write things down. Not just a note in their phone, but they put notes everywhere they or others might need to see them. The act of writing something down makes the memory process both visual and kinesthetic. A hand-written ladder gives a more concrete understanding of the book — and your plan. A planner with deadlines helps with time management. Some of the best editors I’ve ever had, covered the edges of their computer screens in sticky notes.

They had a note for everything and even color coded them so they knew what was important. Once the task was done, they were able to get rid of that note.

They go above and beyond while managing a life balance. We get it. You have an entire courseload, not just yearbook, but think of this as your first full-time job. You are managing a staff and meeting real-world deadlines while handling things you need to tackle outside of your happy little yerd world. A strong editor knows that good enough is neither good nor enough. This is where we circle back to the third point! Develop a planner system where you can manage your other class assignments but still leave room for your job. Leave a legacy for others to rise to in the future.

They still remember to have fun. Yearbook is unlike any other class. The relationships you form during your time in yearbook can be transformational. You are creating one of the most amazing things any high schooler can do, and you’re stuck together. Tensions can get high when everyone is stressing over that December deadline. Sometimes we just need a break. Proper planning allows time for fun activities for your staff. The social well-being of staffers is just as important as the skills needed to create a yearbook. Your staff is your family, and the best way to support each other is to laugh together.

KATIE MERRITT, MJE
Darlington School • Rome, GA

Read more yearbook blog stories like When the Struggle is Real, Adapt and It’s Time for the Talk.

filed under:

10 Things I Wish I Knew Before High School

High school is a time when teenagers are beginning their transition into young adults. It’s a time when just about everyone is socially awkward, but only a few are wise enough to know that’s the case. It can probably best be described by the opening line of Charles Dickens novel, A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

Because one day you’ll wish you could stay in high school forever and the next you can’t leave for college soon enough. To help there be more better days than worse, we’d like to offer the following 10 things we think every high schooler needs to keep in mind from day one.

#1 Even as a freshman you have to think about college.
If your ultimate goal is getting into the best college you can (which is the case for most high school students) the GPA that gets sent to colleges isn’t the GPA you get beginning the day you decide you want to get a good GPA. It’s the GPA you get from the very first day of high school. Too many students try and make up for a lost semester or two from Freshman year only to find their GPA will never be what they ultimately want it to be. Don’t be one of them. So, from the very first day of high school you need to be focused and getting good grades.

#2 Try new stuff.
High School’s probably the first time in your life when you get to actually pick some of your classes. So, try some new things. Also, look into joining some clubs. Try out for a few sports. Run for Student Government. You may not make the team, or get elected, but then again you might. The Hall of Fame hockey player Wayne Gretzky once said, “You miss 100 percent of all shots you don’t take.” So, take a few shots. You’d be surprised you’re probably a lot better at things than you think.

#3 Build relationships with your teachers.
High School is when you begin to realize that not all teachers are out to “get you.”
Some of them are actually pretty cool, and high school is when they begin to start treating you like the adults you’re starting to be. It’s mature to have a friendly relationship with the ones you like, and those relationships can actually help you out in the long run. You can always go back to them for help and advice, even a college recommendation letter. That said, there’s still probably going to be a few who you might just want to steer clear of and it’s probably pretty obvious who those are.

#4 These are not “the best years of your life.”
Don’t listen to anyone who says otherwise. High school is mostly a journey toward discovering yourself. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you. The best is yet to come. That’s not saying you won’t develop friendships that will probably last a lifetime, but you’ve still got a lot of growing, and meeting new people, to do. Keep that in mind and put everything in perspective.

#5 Working hard pays off.
No one will ever regret working hard. Often, in the middle of an all-nighter, you may start asking yourself if all this hard work will ever really pay off. It will! All-nighters are not fun. Feeling overwhelmed with work is not fun. What is fun is the result and the immense feeling of pride that comes with it. That said, if you’re doing more than one all-nighter a semester, then you need to work on your time management skills, because you’ve obviously got your current priorities out of whack.

#6 It’s just one grade.
Yes, grades are important. That said you’re probably not going to get straight A’s through all four years. If you stumble, tell yourself, “It’s just one grade, in one class, in one year of school.” Then pick yourself up, dust off the blues and re-double your efforts to make it up on the next exam.

#7 Watch what crowd you run with.
You might think that the people who everyone thinks are “cool” or “popular”, are just that: cool and popular. As it turns out, that’s not always necessarily the case. That’s not to say that there aren’t a few popular kids who are also cool, interesting, and fun to be around; there absolutely are. But don’t go changing who you are or what you believe to hang out with people you think are “cool.” Stay true to yourself and the real friends you have. They will be there for you in the future a lot longer than transitory “cool” friends who aren’t really your friends to begin with.

#8 It’s never too early to start learning about money management.
High School is the time when you become old enough to actually get a job (usually a summer job.) This is a good thing to do for two reasons. 1) The experiences and lessons you learn from being in the workforce are invaluable and 2) Having professional experience at an early age puts you ahead. Try to save half of your earnings – or at least something. Don’t just blow it all on pizzas and soda. If your school offers some sort of finance or economics class, take it. If that’s not an option, do a little online research. Money matters. Educate yourself. The sooner the better.

#9 Practice time management.
Time management is going to be critical to your success both in high school, college and life. So, start by working with to-do lists and/or calendars. The best thing about creating to-do lists and using calendars is that it doesn’t have to be an elaborate or time-consuming practice. The second-best thing is that these lists can make a huge difference in your efficiency and output. Visually seeing a list of all the stuff you have to do helps you understand just how much there really is. That’s when you can begin to start paying close attention to not only how much free time you actually have to spend but think more intently about who you want to spend that time with. You’ll learn to not let people waste your time and learn you shouldn’t be wasting theirs either.

#10 Stop worrying so much about your clothes.
If you like to dress up for school, that’s great. If you’d rather save the energy for the weekend, that’s also great. Really, it’s OK if you aren’t wearing your best clothes each and every day. In reality, most people probably don’t even notice that much what you’re wearing because they’re too concerned about their own outfit. Choose an outfit based on what allows you to feel confident and comfortable, instead of what other people will think. People will likely notice your confidence before they take note of what shirt or shoes you’re wearing.

High school can be a trying time, but it can also be a great time. Just stay true to who you are and you’ll be fine. Find a good group of friends and get involved in things you find interesting. As Kevin Atlas says, you just need to believe in you.

filed under:

What to Write in a Yearbook

A little thought goes a long way when signing a yearbook

While the phrase, “Have a great summer” is certainly a nice sentiment to share with a classmate toward the end of your school year it’s not exactly a literary masterpiece when it comes to a yearbook entry, is it?

Why are yearbook messages important?

The pages of a yearbook will bring back memories and may even be seen by your children 10 years from now. In fact, the words inscribed in it will be kept there forever. A keepsake like this deserves a yearbook message that can be treasured for years and years to come, long after graduation.

Whether you’re signing a yearbook for your best friend, a classmate you worked with on a group project or your favorite teacher, you’ll want your message to be personalized and sincere.

Yearbook message for best/closest friends

For your besties, you’re probably going to wonder, “Where do I even begin?” Just remember that this kind of friend knows how awesome you are, and no mediocre yearbook signing is going to change their positive perception of you.

Also, keep in mind that saying, “Can I think about it and get back to you?” isn’t rude. On the contrary, instead you’re wanting to do something really nice and sometimes the muse just isn’t calling. If they’re really your best friend, or one of them, they’ll surely understand. However, if you don’t get back to them, then you really are being rude.

Yearbook messages for casual friends

No pressure here as you don’t need to document every experience you’ve had with the person. The key is to share just the right amount to make the reader smile and reminiscence.

Use a fun opening line. This is your last hoorah of the school year! Start your yearbook message off right with a fun opening line. Remind them of a time the two of you thought you were going to get in trouble but didn’t. Maybe write about a memorable time you two had together with a friend of theirs. Try to pick just one moment that has really stuck with you. You’ll want to keep your message close to about 3-4 lines. Be sure to choose a sentiment that will make the recipient smile.

Yearbook messages for people you don’t really know that well

When someone puts you in this position, you may draw a complete blank and be wondering why they even asked you.

Chances are this person is probably experiencing a bit of social anxiety and he or she, more than anyone, could use a nice sign-off. They may have wanted to be your friend but never got up the nerve to ask you if you’d like to hangout sometime. You should be flattered.

It’s fine to give a generic compliment to this person, as long as you genuinely feel there’s truth to in it! It doesn’t have to be long.

Examples:

“It was super fun having English with you this year. Hope you have a fantastic summer :)”

“Remember me when you’re rich.”

“Stay the same and never change. Too bad we didn’t hang out more.”

“Enjoy your summer. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Glad we were in _____ class together.”

Yearbook quotes

Using quotes from famous people (or anonymous quotes) is a quick and easy way to say something somewhat prophetic without having to rack your brain for something original. They’re not intended to be a replacement for writing something of your own. They’re meant to be more of a nice sign off. Don’t get stuck writing the same thing in everyone’s yearbooks. Use one of these inspirational yearbook quotes to add some variation to your notes:

“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” -Confucius

“If the opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” -Milton Berle

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

“Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.” -James Dean

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” -Les Brown

“Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.” -John Lennon

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt

“Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.” -Minor Myers Jr.

“If you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” -Ronald Dahl

“Live for the moments you can’t put into words.” -Anonymous

“Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection.” -Mark Twain

“What if I fall? Oh, my darling, what if you fly?” -Anonymous

“If it scares you, it might be a good thing to try.” -Seth Godin

“If at first you don’t succeed, so much for skydiving.” -Anonymous

In closing

In addition to funky hair styles and unclear clothing decisions, the signature you leave below your note will follow you around each time that yearbook gets cracked open. As you sign yearbooks this year, think about how you’ll want your peers to remember the time they spent with you during school. Use the above guidelines to help you craft a note you can be proud of that shows off your personality and highlights the time you spent with those you grew up with.

To take part in all the yearbook signing excitement, order your yearbook today.

SHOP YEARBOOK

filed under:

The Art of the Interview

It’s so much more than just getting a quote

I had the privilege, for several summers, of teaching at journalism workshops with Kathy Craghead, the late (and very great) long-time yearbook adviser at Mexico High School in Missouri. She often told the story of looking up from her desk and seeing a yearbook staff member preparing to exit the room.

Her question: “Where are you going?”

The student’s answer: “To get a quote.”

Ms. Craghead likened this to a student leaving the room to get a Coke: Put your money in the machine, out pops a cold can; walk up to a source, get a quote. The end.

But getting a quote is not the same as conducting an interview that will result in full, detailed responses from a student or teacher. Details that will make your yearbook copy come alive and be worth reading, not just on the day your book comes out, but also 10, 20, even 30 years later.

First, you must cover an event at the event. You cannot write about a game, play or concert if you are not there in person, from its beginning (or even before) to its conclusion (or even after). Sending a text a month later and asking questions such as, “What was your favorite part of homecoming?” doesn’t provide anything more than a canned response that could be printed year after year — after year.

If you’re covering an event, you have to show up. You have to see the sights, smell the smells, feel the chill in the air at a football game, hear the audience crack up at the line delivered by a freshman at the spring musical. Those details will add to your copy.

Talking to your sources at the event allows you to provide perspective along with their immediate reaction. Have a yearbook staff member follow a photographer as she shoots an event and interview the photographer’s subjects immediately. Asking for a response of the just-crowned homecoming queen at halftime elicits much more detail than asking her to comment six weeks later when you’re finishing the spread.

While you need to prepare a list of questions, be flexible. If your source provides you with information you didn’t expect, ask a follow-up or two.

And consider ending with this, no matter your topic or source: “Ten years from now, what do you think you will remember about this event/game/occasion?” That question provides perspective and allows your source to see and share the big picture.

Tony Willis
Cathedral HS • Indianapolis, IN

BREAKOUT:
FIVE TIPS FOR CONDUCTING AN INTERVIEW

Be prepared.
Collect background information and research (and this might include talking to individuals who you never quote in your copy) and preparing questions.

Be there.
Conduct the interview where the event occurs. Interview the drum major as she comes off the field at the BOA Grand Nationals, not three weeks later in the school library.

Be flexible.
Yes, be prepared, but don’t just stick to your list of written questions. A good interview is a conversation, not a question-and-answer survey.

Be in the moment.
Take complete, detailed, handwritten notes and also record the interview. Don’t depend on technology to do your job.

Be organized.
As soon as possible after the interview is over, review your notes. Listen to the recording and transcribe the interview, both your questions and the source’s answers. Doing so is the key to getting the correct information and accurate direct quotes.

Read more yearbook blog stories like The Human Experience and YBK: It’s a Big Deal.

filed under:

The Human Experience

Embracing this concept will naturally improve your storytelling — and your readership

All right, here’s the secret: We care about people, not things. That’s it.

When it comes to yearbook copy, we want to remember how we felt about the year, not just the dates on which events happened and what their outcomes were.

Sure, it’s nice to know the football team won state, but what we really want to read about is how the senior quarterback overcame a broken leg to throw the game-winning touchdown pass.

Or how his mother ran out onto the field afterward to hug him while both cried. That’s so much more compelling than simply telling the readers the team won and the school was happy with their accomplishments.

So, how do we get these stories? Well, it’s all about the interview. If you ask the interviewee about winning the game, he’ll tell you it felt great. But then ask “Why?” Follow that with “What was the hardest thing about this year?” Or “What was the biggest surprise the team had this year?”

Those open-ended questions allow the interviewee to reminisce on the event and tell the human side of the story in addition to the outcome. We want to know how he felt about the win — and the season — and what led up to that. That’s something to which we can all relate.
Sometimes it’s even as easy as asking, “What was the dominant emotion for you this year?” And then you follow that up with the best question of all: “Why?”

When you capture the human experience, the copy in your yearbook is much more interesting, and it records what it felt like to be a student at your school this year. The cast of characters and the circumstances will make the story unique.

The stories of the year need to be told by your student body, so fill your copy with copious quotes. Let them tell the year’s story, not the writers’ words; the staff just sets the stage.

Remember, humans really do care most about people and their emotions during experiences — not things. We can all relate to how someone feels, and those feelings are what bring the stories to life.

HEATHER NAGEL, CJE
Christ Presbyterian Academy • Nashville, TN

Photo by Preston Roten

AFTER ADMIRING THE GOLDEN TROPHY and celebrating their state football title came interviews with the yearbook staff. Adding quotes from several members of the team in the caption allowed the staff to capture more emotion and detail.

DISCUSSING THEIR EXCITEMENT and nervousness, both the copy and captions included quotes and anecdotes about the kindergartners’ preparation for the school program.

AN ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAIT accompanies the profile of one of the youngest teachers on campus. His voice plus those of others make the story more interesting.

THE CONNECTION between the dominant photo, the headline and the copy is reinforced when a senior runner reflects on the season and her career.

filed under:

College Graduation Hood Colors

What Color is Your Hood?

In addition to the graduation gown, stole and cap there is also the graduation hood.

The graduation hood comes in three sizes to help distinguish the college graduate’s degree, with the smaller hood signifying a bachelor’s degree, the medium-sized hood representing a master’s degree and the large-sized hood representing a doctoral degree.

In addition to various sizes, the hood also comes in various colors. The color of the satin lining of the hood will represent the school of the graduate and the soft velvet border will indicate the field of the graduate’s study.

While there are specific colors that have been established for certain degrees, (defined by the 1893 the inter-Collegiate Costume Code) a few schools may have established their own colors for certain degrees. Below you will find which color the American Council on Education prefers for which degree.
Shop for all your graduation essentials today.

Agriculture (Maize)

Arts, Letters, Humanities (White)

Commerce, accountancy, Business (Drab)

Dentistry (Lilac)

Economics (Copper)

Education (Light Blue)

Engineering (Orange)

Fine Arts, Architecture (Brown)

Forestry (Russet)

Journalism (Crimson)

Law (JD, LLD, LLB) (Purple)

Library Science (Lemon)

Medicine (Green)

Music (Pink)

Nursing (Apricot)

Oratory Speech (Silver Gray)

Pharmacy (Olive Green)

Philosophy (Dark Blue)

Physical Education (Sage Green)

Public Administration, Foreign Service (Peacock Blue)

Public Health (Salmon Pink)

Science (Golden Yellow)

Social Work (Citron)

Theology (Scarlet)

Veterinary Science (Gray)

filed under: