Morgan Smith 2015

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Morgan Smith morgangracesmith.wordpress.net - @morgsmith8 May 15, 2015 Renee Burke Yearbook adviser Legend Yearbook 1000 E. Kaley St. Orlando, FL, 32806 Dear Mrs. Burke, The Legend publication is a group-oriented organization that I enjoyed being a part of as a first-year copy editor. I appreciate the dedication and hard work you and the other staff members put into this year’s book, and I would like to re-apply for a copy editor position. I would like the chance to maintain my influence and responsibility for next year’s book because I have already gained one year of experience and I am confident and time-efficient in my grading and deadline abilities.

During my first year as the copy editor, I improved my own writing as well as the writing of the staff.

My knowledge for AP Style expanded and I strengthened my time management skills, as I had to grade other’s spreads as well as execute my own. As the copy editor, I would be able to continue to positively influence the staff with my leadership and writing skills alongside my knowledge.

Even though the requirements of my desired position can be overwhelming, I am highly capable of completing my work and providing assistance to the staff with whatever problems they might have. As last year’s copy editor, I often helped staffers who were struggling push through their obstacles as well as those who needed a fresh perspective or guidance on their spreads.

I appreciate you considering me for the copy editor position and I feel that a look at my portfolio and last year’s book could properly display my potential to you. I will contact you within the week to discuss your decision. Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Respectfully yours, Morgan Smith

Enclosed: resume

Morgan Smith morgangracesmith.wordpress.net - @morgsmith8 OBJECTIVE To become skilled at leading and motivating my peers through encouragement as well as through example to increase efficiency while gaining real world experience.

EDUCATION

Completed three years at William R. Boone High School.

Graduation date: May 2016.

G.P.A. 4.69 weighted. Top 1.25% of class.

EXPERIENCE Legend Yearbook, William R. Boone High School

Aug. 2013-2014. Staffer. Write body copy and captions, take and edit photographs to place on layout, interview teachers and students, meet deadlines.

Aug. 2014-2015. Copy editor. Complete deadlines, grade captions and body, edit and correct proofs and assist staffers.

Baby sitting

2009- present. Arrive on time to take care of children, entertain with toys and games, provide meals, change diapers, clean up messes, and get them ready for bed.

Dog sitting 2009- present. Feed and walk dogs on a schedule, let them out, keep house clean.

RELEVANT HIGH SCHOOL COURSES

Journalism I, VI, V and VIII honors, English I, II and III Honors.

HONORS, AWARDS AND MEMBERSHIPS

National Honor Society- 2014- present. A club that recognizes students for outstanding academics, leadership and service.

Newbie of the Year- 2013-2014, for unequaled achievements, dedication and contributions Volleyball team member and captain. 2007-present. I began volleyball in fourth grade and continue to play school volleyball. Seventh-ninth grade I played club at OVA. I was an MVP and captain for all of my middle school teams and captain of my eighth grade club team. 2-year varsity member.

REFERENCES

Renee Burke: yearbook adviser. (407) 443-8451

Jenn Hedger: club volleyball coach. (727) 501-4208

Michelle Salinitro: babysitting/dog sitting employer. (407) 538-5922

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Freshman year, I enrolled in journalism hoping to enhance my writing skills and develop a foundation for photography as well as design.

Sophomore year, once I became a staffer of the Legend yearbook staff, I practiced these skills throughout my deadline experiences. I remember walking out of workdays seeing my editors carrying stacks of folders they were taking home to grade and thinking, “I am glad I am not an editor, that must be so much work.” However, accepting the position of copy editor this year was one of the best decisions I have made in high school. After a year of being an editor, I understand the importance of meeting deadlines, dedication, teamwork and overcoming hardships. As a staff, executing deadlines in a timely manner was a struggle, which put unnecessary stress on editors, as well as Mrs. Burke. Staffers often turned in their pages into me past their due date, so on many occasions I was bombarded with folders needing grading for body and captions in addition to folders needing grading for majors. I feel like this is where my dedication was evident. I spent countless hours grading folders at home, helping staffers with their spreads during class and fixing proofs alongside the other editors after school.

Being a part of the “theme team” made me realize how critical it is to have teamwork among the editorial staff, as well as with the staffers. I had to be willing to cooperate with others in order to better our book. I knew that taking on the responsibilities of the copy editor would require me to be more efficient with my time, and I feel that I overcame that hardship throughout my deadlines. I learned how to prioritize and I became faster at grading while simultaneously completing my own spreads.

Although grading folders and checking proofs was a major source of stress, I am positive that I will use all of these skills in my professional life when meeting deadlines in a work environment, functioning with co-workers and committing myself any task.

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I believe my most significant piece from this year is my boys volleyball page. Although the design didn’t change drastically, there were challenges I had to cope with concerning the body copy. I was in charge of writing the copy, so I developed a strong and interesting angle around the boy who I was going to write the story on. However, during his interview, I learned that he was no longer a part of the team. To combat this, I had to find another player who could be used as well as a unique angle relating to his season. Within in the next few days, I interviewed a new player three different times until I received enough strong quotes to support my angle and then wrote the story. The most challenging part was making sure I did not fall too far behind on my deadline, despite having to change every aspect of my body copy. Once I wrote the copy, my deadline partner and I completed the grading process ahead of schedule.

I checked over my partners captions and fixed trivial errors to prevent us from being resubbed. I also shot the team pictures at the beginning of the season, so I completed the whole reference page during 4th period. I typed in the scoreboard and sized and place all four pictures on it so I could turn it in the next period. Since boys volleyball was my beat and I was required to shoot volleyball games, I knew that my partner and I could count on having usable photos for our page. I loved seeing my pictures appear on my spread and contributing to content other than the body or captions was rewarding for me, as a copy editor. I like how the finished spread has pictures of mine that not only show action, but also emotion.

I also like how the copy is very focused on my intended angle. I was not satisfied with the quotes I received from the first, or even second, interview so I kept interviewing the player until I was happy with his responses. I have learned that the quality of your quotes correlates with the quality of the story.

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Y15sports action photo I would like this photo to represent me because it shows action, while remaining clear and in focus, and it portrays rule of thirds. Despite being shot in the gym, it has good lighting and doesn’t have an orange tint.

Y17academic photo This photo stands out because of its repetition, since all of the cadets are executing the same drill, and its leading lines.

They were practicing marching, so I got in front of them and focused on the boy in front, who follows rule of thirds, and the cadets behind him created the leading lines to pull the reader through the photo.

Y8- headline writing I think my headlines show my most creative work in the book, as they allow for puns and other funny phrases.

My bowling headline is a play on words for the line from a song that says, “They see me rollin’.” My tattoos and piercings headline plays on the phrase “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” It also rhymes. But, my absolute favorite headline package is from the band spread. The main headline is a lyric from the song “Royals.” The following lyric in the song says, “You can call me Queen Bee,” but the queen of the band performance, and the subject for our mod, has a name beginning with a “C”. So it was my idea to change the mini headline of the mod to “You can call me Queen C.”

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I have grown a tremendous amount since last year as a staffer. My responsibility within the publication and my dedication to it has increased drastically due to my new position as the copy editor.

I was anxious last year about the requirements that my new position would entail, but after the first two deadlines, I became better at managing my time and my knowledge of AP Style writing greatly expanded. I set a higher standard for myself and my quality of work than I did my previous year on staff because I became more comfortable working on deadlines and my staff and the book depended on my edits, commitment and leadership.

My previous portfolio displays spreads that required a lot of editing and assistance from editors to meet the level of approval. This year, my skills, particularly my writing, have improved so that I only need minimal grading. My most significant piece last year was my profile on a blacksmith, but it is hard to tell what the story is about from looking at the draft in my previous portfolio since it is completely covered in edits from my copy editor. This year, my stories weren’t drowning in edits because my writing became more succinct, my quotes supported my angle and I organized my transitions well in order for the copy to guide the reader gently through the text. I also became more skilled with a camera. I had three dominant photos in this years book and even a divider in the opening, whereas last year, I was more dependent on other people’s photography to use on my pages. I liked shooting more this year because I was more confident and I realized how much I liked seeing my pictures appear in the book. I believe that my higher quality of work and increased awareness of deadlines stemmed from the new responsibilities of becoming the copy editor, and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to accept this position.

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what’s mine: ☐writing ✓ ☐ photography ☐ ✓ captions ☐ ✓ secondary coverage

deadline 2 september, p. 21

what’s mine: ☐writing ☐ photography ☐ captions ☐ ✓ secondary coverage ✓

november, p. 67

deadline 3

what’s mine: ☐writing ✓ ☐ photography ☐ ✓ captions

deadline 4 community, p. 350

✓ ✓ photography ☐ captions ☐ ✓ secondary coverage what’s mine: ☐writing ☐

spring sports, p. 27

deadline 7

what’s mine: ✓ ☐ photography ✓ ☐ captions ✓ ☐ secondary coverage

deadline 7 sports reference, p. 37

what’s mine: ☐writing ☐ ✓ photography

multimedia

http://tinyurl.com/kj8dhwy

what’s mine: ☐writing ✓ ☐ photography

multimedia

http://tinyurl.com/kw6qhva

what’s mine: ☐writing ✓ ☐ photography

multimedia

http://tinyurl.com/knmh7rq

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photography NJROTC, p. 110 hut 2, 3, 4. After school, junior Ian Young practices for competition. “My favorite thing is the commradery, [because] we all get along. We get together on weekends and go paintballing just for fun,� Young said.

Young had family members in the military, and he planned to join the Marine Corps. photo/ Morgan Smith

photography competition clubs, p. 64 jot it down. Senior cocaptain Breanna Rummler records witness analysis notes to prepare for the next tournament at Mock Trial practice on Jan. 7.

photography boys basketball, p. 96 liftoff. With intense focus, sophomore Justin Butler goes for a layup. “[I enjoyed the] Oak Ridge [game]. They were ranked number one, [and] we gave them a good challenge,� Butler said.

Butler scored nine points against Oak Ridge. photo/ Morgan Smith

photography boys volleyball, p. 26 oh kill ’em. On March 5, junior Blake Garrison hits around a Timber Creek block. “It’s one of the greatest feelings knowing after I crush a set that I can celebrate with my teammates,” Garrison said.

Garrison registered three kills against the Wolves.

photography boys volleyball, p. 27 scream and shout. After the team won a point, junior Jon Bartelt celebrates. “We can’t win unless we play as a team, and when we play as a team, it’s more fun,” Bartelt said.

photography boys volleyball, p. 27 lucky 7. In the match against Timber Creek, sophomore Daniel Hermida leaps into the air to spike the ball. “Altogether, we get excited about winning and [realized we] can do more [as] a team,�

Hermida said. Hermida had five kills against the Wolves. photo/Morgan Smith

photography

opening, p. 4 “[Meeting Tiffany Houghton] was cool because she was nice, and I liked her music. She was good at singing; she didn’t just sing, she interacted with us. It was different taking a picture with an up and coming celebrity,” freshman christian brown said.

photography

abuse issue p. 132

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