Developing our yearbook theme was a challenging process. My Co-Editor-in-Chief and I struggled to pinpoint exactly what we wanted to convey, and it took us quite a while to find the perfect direction. Over the summer, I attended MIPA with a friend who was in the newspaper journalism class, while I took the Yearbook Theme Development class with Cody Harrell. I knew I needed guidance—not just in choosing a theme, but in ensuring that it could be carried throughout the entire book in a meaningful way.
One of the biggest challenges I faced was that my Co-EIC wasn’t there with me. Since we share the responsibility of shaping the book, his absence created a lot of stress and miscommunication. I was constantly texting him, trying to make sure we were on the same page, but it was difficult without being able to collaborate in person. Despite the challenges, a few days into the workshop, we finally landed on our theme: Unbreakable.
This school year has brought major changes to our community, including an entirely new administration team. With so much transition, I wanted our theme to reflect the resilience and strength of our school. I explored different words and phrases before ultimately choosing "We Are Unbreakable." To prove you are unbreakable, you have to be pushed to a breaking point—and yet, you persevere. Adding "We Are" emphasized that this isn't just about individuals, but about our entire school community. It’s us. Only us. And together, we will get through anything.
Above is the cover and one of our theme spreads. I designed the cover to resemble cracks with light shining through them, symbolizing that even in difficult times, there is always a guiding light leading us to remarkable things. I felt this concept aligned perfectly with our theme.
One of the most ironic yet intentional design choices I made was breaking up the word "Unbreakable." I wanted to emphasize the "UN" to highlight our resilience, and by separating it and enlarging it, I was able to reinforce that message visually.
The theme spread is probably my favorite in the entire book. To make it truly representative of our school, I sent out a poll asking students to fill in the blank: "We are _______." Every response came directly from our student body, illustrating that the qualities they see in themselves are exactly what make us Unbreakable.