This year marks five years since I left my volunteer gig as Yearbook Creator—a position I held for 13 years. I even stayed on one year after my kids had left the school.
I loved it—through the stress, the frustration, and the overwhelming task of gathering all the content, designing the pages, making sure I had photos of all the kids, cropping and selecting images, creating layouts, marketing, tracking sales, reaching out to parents and teachers, handling distribution, dealing with errors and missing orders—I loved it.
Were there times I was so overwhelmed I cried? Yes.
Were there times I swore I’d never do it again? Absolutely.
Were there times I didn’t sleep for a day or two? Yes!
Was there a year I turned in the yearbook so late I wasn’t sure it would arrive before the last day of school—so I couldn’t sleep? Yep.
Was there a year I was standing at the curb with carts and other parents, watching for the FedEx truck? You bet.
Many of these stressors were my own doing—my style, my pace—and I know I brought it on myself. But once the yearbooks were in the kids’ hands and I saw their excitement? I forgot all about those tough moments (well… mostly).
As a yearbook creator, I made books for 13 years across three different schools—13 years at one, five at another, and I think six at the third – several of those years overlapping with all 3. I’m not entirely sure how I did it all, but I did it because I loved making yearbooks!.
Here’s why I loved it:
- I loved creating something special! I’m a creative person, and this was the perfect outlet.
- I loved learning how to make these books! Thanks to yearbooks, I taught myself Adobe Photoshop Elements, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign (shoutout to YouTube and a very patient sales rep), and at least five different design platforms from four different yearbook companies.
- I loved learning about design trends.
- I loved getting to know my sales reps at each company.
- I loved developing themes and making them unique for each school, even similar themes but for different ages—several of my themes and designs became company templates.
- I loved being in the schools and seeing a different side of learning and student life than I saw as a parent.
- I loved connecting with the students and seeing them light up when they knew I was there to take photos.
- I loved the connection with teachers and principals throughout the year and through the yearbooks I created.
- I loved being called “Yearbook Lady” by kids who never knew my name.
- I loved the independence I had—being trusted to create on my own terms by the principals and PTOs.
- I loved that my kids felt proud saying, “My mom does the yearbook.”
- I loved handing out the books and seeing students’ faces when they opened them.
- I loved when kids found themselves in multiple parts of the book.
- I loved telling a new student, “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re in the yearbook,” and watching them light up.
- I loved getting texts and Facebook messages from parents saying how much they loved the book when their child brought it home.
Even with all the stress and frustration, being the “Yearbook Lady” was a huge part of my identity. I’ve done a lot in the school district—and still do—but yearbooks were always my favorite. Every time I said, “I can’t do this anymore,” and then saw those excited faces and got that positive feedback—I’d sign on for another year.
Because I really, truly loved making yearbooks.