Kayla Combs 2011 Portfolio by Renee Burke

Kayla Combs 2011 Portfolio

Cover Letter

KAYLA COMBS 4521 Lenmore St. Orlando, FL 32812 dcombs4410@gmail.com (407)-381-0672 May 5, 2011 Renee Burke Yearbook Adviser Boone High School 2000 South Mills Avenue Orlando, FL 32806-4199 Dear Ms. Burke, The Boone High School Legend yearbook has won many awards and even Silver Crowns, but I want to help the publication be the best it can be, which is why I’m applying to be Editor-in-Chief. I believe that teamwork is key on any staff. To be able to communicate and be open to other ideas also helps in the building a superb book. If you have the same beliefs, please accept the resume attached and let’s work towards the best yearbook and the Golden Crown. As an average staffer and Business Manager, I have learned to overcome bumps in the road to further my writing and the outcome of the book. I think with my skill set, the book would become even better. As EIC, I believe my creative thinking and helpfulness would be utilized. Madison Smith, former yearbook staffer and editor, agrees that this position is one that I would fit right into. As a valuable problem solver and ethical staffer, I can accommodate others to help fabricate the best publication to our student body. As an avid artist, I enjoy coming up with new designs and molding them into a finished piece that people will remember. As an able leader, I would be an adequate EIC. As EIC, I would have a chance to expand practical skills to use later in life. Thank you for taking the time to look over the resume attached, but I also hope to have an interview with you to help show you the passion I have for this position. Hope to hear from you soon. Earnestly yours,

Kayla Combs Enclosed: resumé

Resume

KAYLA COMBS 4521 Lenmore St. Orlando, FL 32812 dcombs4410@gmail.com (407)-381-0672 OBJECTIVE To learn and improve upon skills that will help on a day-to-day basis and in the workplace, public speaking and public relations, or publishing a yearbook that will make oneself feel proud. EDUCATION Completed two years at Boone High School Graduation date: June 2013 G. P. A. 3.86 EXPERIENCE Yearbook Staff Member, Boone High School •Aug 2010 - present. Staffer that wrote stories, took pictures and went through Journalism 1 Yearbook Business Manager, Boone High School •Aug 2010 - present. Wrote receipts, deposits, and helped in the distribution of the books. Yearbook Editor-in-Chief, Boone High School •Present - June 2013. Will create and edit the book to be the best it can be. Mission Fuge •Summer of 2007-2013. Went into the inner city of southern states to minister to kids about the love of Jesus Christ RELEVANT HIGH SCHOOL STUDIES Journalism 1, English 1 Honors, English 2 Honors HONORS, AWARDS AND MEMBERSHIPS • Junior National Honor Society Member, at Howard Middle • Most likely to start doing flips on the soccer field, paper plate award for soccer

Personal Essay

Over time things change, people come and go, you learn from your mistakes and improve, but in yearbook messing up isn’t an option. In yearbook, you strive to be the best at what you’re doing whether you enjoy it or not. I feel as though journalism has not only taught me more about writing, but about life it self. You learn time management, teamwork, and staying dedicated to the publication. I got into Journalism 1 because of Madison Smith, former staffer and editor. In fact she was the first person that I told about becoming the EIC. She was always a role model and to see her enjoy yearbook made me want to at least try it. Turns out I’m pretty good at it, or so they say. This year I have been through stressful and overloaded days to help yearbook be it’s best. At the end of those days I am always able to think back and proudly say to myself,”You kicked butt on that page, keep it up!”. Not only did I have yearbook, but also sports that I was very actively involved in. Just a taste of the pressure that I felt at one point is the dreadful deadline in which I didn’t get my actual spread until two days before majors were due to Burke. Talk about D-day and stress There was also the wrestling spread that I resubmitted three or four times to finally nail it with Caley’s help. Someone once said,”There is no success like failure.”

Self-analytical Evaluation

Until the end of high school I will learn something new in Room 224 everyday. But to name a few things that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned over this year and what seems to be most important is the necessity of being on deadline, being able to offer a helping hand, to take criticism, and to just breath in tough situations. D-day as Burke calls it, is the day that one needs to be finish with the spread and be ready to go to press with. The mistakes should not exist any longer and the page should be perfect. Meeting deadlines means that the money and time will not be wasted and go to better things. Leading up to deadlines are the edits and the corrections to reach perfection. After an editor edits your work, they normally leave comments and pointers for you. Sometimes this isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enough and you need them to sit down and actually work with you on the spread. This act of helpfulness is such a help in the long run. To have such accommodating editors helps the staff. These editors are editors though and so they will be as harsh as within reason to meet the standards that they have for the book. The important part of being an average staffer is to take this constructive criticism and to put it to use. The editors only want to make things better, so why not take into account their opinion. These situations can be quite stressful and you have to remember to just take a deep breath and to stay calm. This got me through a lot of laborious times. All of the skills will help me in life outside of school and in everyday life. Yearbook has taught me many things that I will use for the rest of my life on a regular basis.

Reflection One

Wrestling...enough said. It all started with the resubmit for David, then there was another, and then there was another. Being myself, I had decided to tackle body copy before actually knowing anything about wrestling. This was all before I had even got my layout and David had the tendency to forget I had asked for help at the beginning of class. David being a tough critic was a big pill to swallow. Being that David expects the best for his section, he will resubmit until he gets just that, I believe that this is when I actually started to write stories. Although I think secretly he wanted to resubmit me one more time before finally sending me to Caley. Wrestling was the most difficult story that I wrote this year. Not only did I not know anything about it, but I had conflicting schedules to only go to one match to watch. Caley was my savior during this deadline. She sat down with me after she saw my failed attempts at a story and began to help shape a new angle. She gave me her time, skills, and field notes to shape the body into what it turned out to be, thankfully. I learned from this body copy that you need to go to meets of sports to get a feel for the sport before you can start writing and have the support of your editors to help you get through the rough patches. The best part of this body copy is the flow from every transition to the next thing. The entire season is covered and the way in which the quotes relate is unique and shows the drive of the team. This was the most challenging, but my favorite body copy.

Reflection One First Draft

Reflection One Final Draft

Reflection Two

The one spread that I feel as though still needs work is the HOPE page that I had for deadline two. The body developed over time and became an average body copy. The body covered the basics, but there was nothing really amazing about it. The photos are decent, but as my editor told me,â&#x20AC;?Some of them look very posed.â&#x20AC;? I did not pose any of these photos, but do agree with the statement. This spread is still in need of work to make the body better and the photos more natural looking. Throughout the process of submitting this page I learned that I should never settle for average. Looking back I know I probably could have done a better job at the photos and even the body. Over the span of the deadline the content of the spread stayed basically the same with little changes here and there. My biggest regret on this page are the photos. I wish that they did not look so posed, because honestly they are pretty bad. Overall I feel ok about the page, but like all things human, nothing is perfect.

Reflection Two First Draft

Reflection Two Final Draft

n GOT skiLLs. Freshman Delaney Hoevenaar bumps, sets and spikes the ball in HOPE class. “[I like] spiking because I can hit the ball harder than most girls,” Hoevenaar said. The students practiced and applied these skills in HOPE and volleyball class.

Bump, set, spike. These are the essential skills used in a volleyball game. The first play of the game is a bump. To bump, one should put his arms together with the forearms upward. When bumping, the ball should hit three inches above the wrists. A good pass always starts a good game and can lead to a win. The next play will normally be setting. To set, one places his arms above his head and then pushes up and outward. When pushing the ball, the finger pads should be the only thing touching the ball. Also, one’s arms should be completely extended when setting. If the palm of one’s hand helps push the ball, it will be called a carry. If it is a carry, then the point will go to the other team. After a set, there is the spike. To spike, the player should open the hand and hit the top of the ball with his palm. For a powerful spike, one should do an approach for momentum and power.

ONE ON ONE VOLLEYBALL

n NOTEs ON ExErcisE. In HOPE, freshman Enrique Alvarado learns ways to exercise. “I like how we can exercise in whatever way we want,” Alvarado said. The students learned the physiology of the body.

photos/Kayla Combs

056 Discuss

“I like HOPE kickball. Since I was on the soccer team, I knew I was one of the best kickers out there,” freshman Delanee Bogan said.

n JumP sHOT. To warm up for a game, freshman Barry Taylor takes a shot. Taylor enjoys offensive play more than defensive. “I [like] that I get to score so that my team will win,” Taylor said. The HOPE students played basketball every Friday. photo/Kayla Combs

330 students polled Nov. 17

Freshman Mackenzie Williamson runs around the track during HOPE class in effort to finish a mile. “I like the feeling I get when [I’m running],” said that students should be able to take the class online Williamson said. “I can think clearly.” The students ran a mile in class, whereas an online student would have to make enough time on his said that students shouldn’t be able to take the class online own to run the mile.

53% 47%

Should students be allowed to take HOPE online?

n BURN IRON. During a hamstring exercise, freshman Xena Aboudallah lifts weights. “I like the fact that I’m getting stronger,” Aboudallah said. The students went to the weight room every Wednesday to take part in anaerobic exercise.

the ball with their fingers and to spike the ball with the palm of their hand. While learning these skills students took part in competitive games. The social skills gained from the class helped students communicate better and to do better in team-oriented situations. “[I’ve learned] not to give up and not to fear doing bad,” freshman Travis McBryde said. Fitness Lifestyle was another new class offered that also taught health maintenance. Students learned key health choices they should do to increase and maintain their health. The students were put in a life-like situation and told to do what would benefit them later in life. The situations varied from choosing between foods to whether or not to do drugs. “Developing lifelong skills of staying fit [are the benefits of HOPE],” teacher Paul Katauskas said. Whether it was running a mile on the track, sitting in a classroom learning the physiology of the body or hitting a volleyball, one learned skills useful for life. “Anything that burns calories, develops muscular strength and helps maintain optimal weight is beneficial for life,” Katauskas said. n KAYLA COMBS

n YOu’rE OuTTA HErE. In a kickball game, freshman Robert Simmons catches the ball to help his team to victory. “I like the outfield,” Simmons said. “I like chasing the ball to get people out.” HOPE students played kickball for anaerobic exercise. This helped them stay fit and exercise.

He looked intently at the ball rolling towards him. As he approached the ball, he wound up his leg and struck the ball. It was a kickball home-run. Since kindergarten, all students in the public school system had to take physical education. Health Opportunities through Physical Education is a required class to graduate, but that did not mean it was not worthwhile. “[HOPE] teaches you how to remain healthy for later in life and how to exercise properly,” freshman Clayton Wills said. In HOPE, students learned the physiology of the human body. The class covered weight training and anaerobic and aerobic training. In anaroebic training less oxygen is required than in a normal workout, like stretching. In aerobic training, such as running and walking around the track one requiresa higher amount of oxygen. To reinforce the lesson, HOPE students ran a mile, did 50 yard sprints and played kickball on the field. Aside from the mandatory HOPE class, there were other courses available to those interested in physical education classes. Volleyball class developed skills of the sport and taught fitness at the same time. Students learned to bump the ball with their forearms, to set

students experienced different ways to partake in fitness activities to benefit them in life

EXTRAMILE

photo/Kayla Combs

GOINGTHE

photo/Kayla Combs

057 PHYsicAL EDucATiON

photo/Kayla Combs

Reflection Three

This picture is by far my favorite because it shows the players stance, his expression, and his body language shows how hard he is working. The lighting on his face is perfect to where you can see the expression of hard work and determination. I think I like this picture the most because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s such an action shoot and this was my favorite deadline, JV Baseball, that I worked on with Delaney. Even though I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use this picture on the final spread and deadline of the year, I really like it and wish I could have used it to enhance the page. This picture is saved on my laptop, and not the server

Reflection Four

As an average staffer, some people would say I was a behind the scene kind of person, but I think that every staffer stood out in their own way. I was the organized, neat freak, that got majors to Burke before anyone and take pride in that, even if I did jokingly get made fun of. I believe that these quirky things about me made me stand out in my own unique way. My writing skills developed throughout the year thanks to the resubmitting of David Ballard and the helpfulness of Caley Brock. The first three deadlines that I had were pretty simple and I was able to coast through it all easily, then Ballard had me resubmit three times and I finally got the hint that I had to step it up. Brock was more than willing to help me in this process as she gave me her field notes and sat down and worked on the story with me. On a skill of one to ten, my writing skills have reached a 9.25. Also as Business Manager, I was pretty important since I kept track of everything related to the purchase of the books and the records of this. But otherwise, I really didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do anything that important other than type names, alphabetize, and write receipts. Commitment is key to any successful partnership or staff. If no one came to work days or to class, then there wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have been a book. My commitment level was very high this year, as I came to every work day and stayed till everything got to an adequate stopping point for that day. I think as a staffer, one needs to realize that time is key and you have to be willing to give it. I hope to show this next year.

Reflection Five

The biggest problem that I had to face this year is working yearbook into my already hectic schedule. Being an active athlete, having family events, and church is already a plateful, but yearbook is something that I wanted to do since I enjoyed Journalism 1. This being the case, I began to work in the workdays and extra work load so that I could still perform in other areas of my life. This might have been the biggest obstacle, but in the long run it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that hard to overcome. Having to squeeze some yearbook related things into my schedule helped teach me the need of being flexible and always helping when I can. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always have things my way and yearbook helped me realize that. Over time, one could say that I developed the sense of time and how to use it wisely. Yearbook showed me that if you can plan things out for the future, you can be ready for the unexpected.

Reflection Six

My mid-year goals: 1. Spend more time on yearbook. I believe that I spent more time in yearbook at the end of the year than the beginning of the year. I achieved this goal by setting aside time needed to accomplish getting my pages done and doing them well. My time was spent in an amazing and non-wasteful way. 2. Focus more time on Business Manager work. I think that was is a throw in at the last minute goal because then I was doing fine and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m doing great now that everything has settled down and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have much to do. The most important part of the year was the beginning and being able to write all those receipts. 3. Remaining calm. I think that was a pretty important thing this year. I laugh now at my little breakdowns because they really werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that big of a deal. I would get worked up and I just needed to take a chill pill. I think I have definitely improved upon this skill since the beginning of the year.

Reflection Seven

Y2. Sports Reporting Wrestling body copy (pg 153). This body copy covers the whole season, starting with the first meet and then the rest of the season in a brief summary. It puts the reader in the wrestlerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind set and shows what goes through their mind.

Y16. Sports Action Color Photo. Wrestling action photo (pg 153). This photo is an action shot of a wrestler in a quite awkward position, but it is up close and everything is in focus. It shows the skills I have learned this year.

Y20. Academics Color Photo. Ceramic photo (pg 153). This photo is of a student working in ceramics. It is close and fills the frame. It shows the hands-on experience that the students get at our school.

Reflection Eight

Why d o w e t r y t o f i t i n w h e n w e w e r e b o r n t o s t a n d o u t ?

ourself and n y e ever hol B d b a ck .

nO D esig

Design Two

Deadline One

Deadline Two

ONE ON ONE VOLLEYBALL

photos/Kayla Combs

056 Discuss

“I like HOPE kickball. Since I was on the soccer team, I knew I was one of the best kickers out there,” freshman Delanee Bogan said.

EXTRAMILE

330 students polled Nov. 17

53% 47%

Should students be allowed to take HOPE online?

students experienced different ways to partake in fitness activities to benefit them in life

GOINGTHE

photo/Kayla Combs

057 PHYsicAL EDucATiON photo/Kayla Combs

photo/Kayla Combs

Deadline Three

VOICE

108

108-109_1034450.indd 108

“[I am best at] being a water boy,” junior Joshua Slovenkay said.

When wrapping ankles, wrists and other body parts, there were techniques to be learned. Senior Samantha Arcara began learning how to wrap at the beginning of the year and by winter break, she excelled at the task. “[I mostly tape] because I’m learning; I’m new and I have to learn more,” Arcara said. Being a first year trainer, Arcara learned through hands-on experience and practice. When a player walked in with anything that needed to be taped, Arcara was the one that ended up taping them. Arcara joined the club for fun and in the end, she learned things that could be helpful later in life.

Practice makes Perfect

kids serviced per week

water bottles filled per week

450 100

rolls of tape per week

n thE wOrk nEVEr Ends. Before a soccer practice, sophomore Amanda Swartwout fills water bottles. “I hate having to get wet, but I’m glad the players are hydrated,” Swartwout said. Swartwout filled around 1,000 water bottles the whole year. photo/Kayla Combs

1/20/11 5:49:57 PM

108-109_1034450.indd 109

photo/Phabulous Photos

n that’s a wraP. Senior Alison Heffernan helps Bradley Hutsell with a cut on his wrist. “I like making the new friendships with injured players,” Heffernan said. Heffernan participated in Sports Medicine all four years.

n FEEL thE PaIn. At a freshman football game, trainer Julie Solomon attends to a cramp in the lower calf. “Usually you see the mechanism and you can see how they fell or landed,” Solomon said. “You can kind of predict what’s going to happen [after you see that].” Solomon helped over 50 football players off the field over the football whole season.

photo/Caley Brock

The game had just begun and the members were waiting for another player to come off the field with an injury that would have to be tended to. The first injury was an ankle sprain, the second was a mere cut on the knee, the third a kink in the neck. The students in Sports Medicine were prepared to handle these types of injuries with expertise. The members invested anywhere from 18 to 32 hours a week helping athletes. They prepared for circumstances that were out of the norm, like a broken jaw from lacrosse or a minor concussion that would put an athlete in the emergency room. They also filled so many water bottles that they lost count after the first day during the football season. “You have to take your job seriously. Even though you’re around your friends all day, you have to know when to be professional,” senior Elizabeth Shearouse said. “There is a time to play and a time to be responsible.” Athletic Trainer Julie Solomon taught the students proper first aid techniques, how to securely wrap injuries, how to give cardiopulmonary respiration and how to use an automated external defibrillator. These were life saving skills and could be used outside of school to help anyone. “I’ve helped my neighbor with a busted up knee and covering it to stop some bleeding,” junior Joshua Rogachesky said. The club met after school in the 700 building and waited to treat students that came in for rehab or even a neck massage to work out kinks. The students in the club prepared themselves for all athletic games and situations that might occur, with hands-on experience. A regular exercise was the enactment of a sprain, which the members would then have to handle accordingly. They learned leadership, teamwork, cooperation and received a sense of accomplishment for the work they did. “[The best thing about being in the club is] just being able to help people with their injuries,” Rogachesky said. Rogachesky knew after he helped his neighbor, that training was something he might want to do in the future. The members always felt proud after a good wrap job on an ankle or any body part, like they made the world a better place for athletes to be in. On game days, the students ate with the football team and created stronger bonds with one another. The members created team-like friendships and atmosphere. They enjoyed the fellowship, which was an added bonus along with the learning experiences and skills. “[The best part about the club] is getting to meet people, to learn about injuries and how to treat them,” sophomore Elisa Carrion said. “It helps you learn about teamwork because you really have to learn to work with your peers.” n kaYLa cOmBs

trainers attended to injuries, filled water bottles and had fun, all the while helping athletes reach their goals

A TEAM LIKE NO OtHer

sPOrts MEdICInE 1/20/11 5:50:02 PM

109

Deadline Fo ur

Deadline Seven

ShOUT

SOPHOMORE

JOHN MADDEN

[My TEAM IS] AWESOME. THEy’RE ALL REALLy GREAT AND WE’RE A REALLy GOOD TEAM.

n BUNT FOR A RUN. Bunting against Colonial, freshman Brianna Cameron tries to advance a runner. “[When I’m at the bat] I’m nervous and then I get anxious for the ball,” Cameron said. Cameron played outfield and second base. n SpRINT TOWARd ThE WIN. Freshman Mark Angelo runs to home plate scoring a run for the team. “[When you get a run for the team, you] get a sense of personal accomplishment and you just feel great,” Angelo said. Angelo had a .309 batting average for the season. n ThROW IT FAR. While warming up before the game against University, freshman Samuel Mc Williams throws to a teammate at home plate. “I like [my team] a lot. We’ve been winning a lot of games and we don’t get very tense; we have fun,” Mc Williams said. Mc Williams,who also was a pitcher, had 25 strikeouts for the season.

photo/Kayla Combs

n TAKE A SWING. Up to bat, freshman catcher Jennifer Alvarez makes contact with the ball. “[The best part of playing for your school is] your team is at school, so you get to see them a lot, ” Alvarez said. Alvarez broke her hand halfway through the season after a girl slid into her as she was attempting to tag her out.

026

“We had the best record because we had the best team,” freshman James Finsie said.

n photo/Allie Sloan photo/Phabulous Photos

When we are winning or tied and everyone is pumped, all the energy is up and we’re having a good time. SUMMER dOUGLAS, FREShMAN

flying right down the middle and when you swing you know it’s a great hit. ABBEY LARR, SOphOMORE Hitting because it’s the hardest, but once you’re good at it and you can get on a roll, it becomes fun and worth while. AUSTIN hOGAN, FREShMAN

DESCRIBE YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE GAME? The feeling of the ball

the team. pep talk to motivate and if they did sophomore, began his hear t of a champion the had they if d “I aske back into the game,” act together and get r thei get ld wou they to tie.” ] we rallied together but in the end Rhea said. “[After that , scoring three runs, The team fought hard 3-4, bringing the ed end game The . win a of shy they fell just eloping season. first loss of their dev we would win,” because I thought the “I was disappointed been good the rest of had “We . said er freshman Austin Pull l.” wel hit ’t didn just as many games season; we the season were to win The team’s goals for With their goals in es. gam e hom all win as possible and to also with high standards t through the season mind, the team wen at home. win they that s tion and the expecta nst the Warriors] [to win at home agai “It feels really good just making them re we’ and e ther fans are because a lot of the . said son der San e proud,” freshman Blak away game still loss was tough, the Although their first at home with an undefeated record earn to team the allowed record. on seas 2 18rall ove an t back and to never ired us to always figh “[That first loss] insp rn, sophomore said. bho Gra n ndo Bra in give up,” co-capta

t Orange TEAM runs against theIn Wes the bottom Warriors. seventh inning, the HUNGER ED FOR ofplaythe and ers huddled together ME n Rhea, HO WINS AT co-captain Brando

It was the top of the second inning and the girls were down by three against West Orange. With two girls on base, freshman Danielle Lobozzo stepped up to the plate and clenched the bat. She swung through the ball, driving it long over the fence for a home run, tying the game, 3-3. “I was really excited because that was the second home run I’ve ever had and to know that I tied the game was really exciting,” Lobozzo said. The West Orange Warriors later went on to win the game 7-6. It was the second time they went up against West Orange after previously tying at home, 10-10. “The first game was scary because we were tied throughout the whole game and we kept battling back,” junior co-captain Alanna Raffaelli said. “It was kind of disappointing because I felt like we should’ve won it.” With the tie in mind, the team went on to play the Warriors for the third and final time. Though they gave it their all, they were unable to pull out a win, finishing the game 3-7. “[Although we lost the final game the outlook for the season] was still good because we proved that we can try and give a lot of effort,” co-captain Lyann Soto, junior, said. Striving to win at least half of their games the team’s drive helped to achieve this goal after the outcome of the final West Orange game, and finished the season 8-6-2. “We tried our hardest to reach our goal [after the outcome] and we did eventually reach it,” Soto said.

GIRLS COMPETED WITH WEST ORANGE

FUEL DRIVE

three They were down by

n DELANEY ARKEILPANE AND KAYLA COMBS

TOUGH LOSSES

Playing well, accomplishing what I need to do on the team and making the plays that I need to so we can win. SARAh REdd, FREShMAN

The competition and intensity of the game because everyone seems to get into the game. ELIAS SEVILLA, SOphOMORE

JV BASEBALL/SOFTBALL

027

photo/Phabulous Photos