Design Port folio
Kate Perez 2018-2019
Personal Essay
I am very happy with my choice to take journalism this year. I decided to take this class because the idea of writing, taking photos, and taking a look into the design world seemed exciting. To be honest, I had no idea what I was getting into, but I enjoyed every second of it. Starting off the year, I felt frustrated, learning that journalism was not easy. From learning how to write in inverted pyramid style, to learning how to use Indesign and Photoshop. I truly learned some things that I definitely would not have known in my lifetime if I did not take this class. As the year comes to an end, I can say that my writing and photography skills have improved greatly. Depth of Field, Worms Eye View, Fill The Frame. These are just a few of the photography basics I learned this year. Having a passion for photography, this class helped shape me into a more skilled photographer. Also, getting to work on the Literary Magazine improved my design skills, and gave me a sneak peek into what yearbook would be like. This year, I also got to experience what a journalism convention felt like. Going to FSPA, I got to take several classes about design and yearbook. This was very beneficial for me as I got to take what I learned and apply it to my work in class. Also this year, I got to help out with profiles in the yearbook. Not only was this fun to do, but it gave me a sneak peek of what yearbook would be like. Taking this class gave me a lot of useful skills I know I will be able to use in the future. Whether it was learning about how to write an opinion piece, or make a fake magazine spread, I definitely had no idea how to do any of these things when I started. Learning about the aspects of photography, writing, and reporting helped me realize how big my passion for journalism is. Looking back at it now, I do not regret at all deciding to take this class.
Reflection This is definitely my favorite photograph I took this year. It isn’t just any photo of a cathedral. The photo is taken from a different angle, kind of like a worms eye view angle. Also on the right side of the image some sunlight is hitting the building, giving the photo more of an effect. What drew me to this picture is I feel like it is one of the best photos I have taken, and it gives me hope that im on the right track to becoming a good photographer. I took this picture during our photography project. We were assigned to take a picture representing each aspect of photography, and this picture represents repetition. I think the repetition of the locks & lockers, and the angle of the photo match up to make the photo look good. I I chose this picture because I think the content in the photo is very cool. The cool architecture and the blue & white sky behind it makes the picture look unique. While it was just a window on the roof of a museum, I saw it as a great opportunity to take a photo. I am very proud of my artisitc eye.
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Mental Health On The Rise
Mental health issues have become more common in teens. What are the main causes of this? Recently, outside factors make it very normal for teenagers to get anxious and depressed. Depression, anxiety, and stress are all major factors of the mental health issues in teenagers today. Factors like those strike most during adolescence according to a MindyourMind article, when teenagers don't know how to cope with it yet. What causes depression and anxiety to hit teenagers so soon? What outside factors are to blame?
Academics
According to a recent poll, 77% of 60 students believe that school is the main cause of depression, anxiety, and especially stress. With the other options being social media (16.4%), peer pressure (3.3%), and other (3.3%). According to most teens, the pressure to do well in school and the amount of work given is what sparks the issues. “The major stress causer is the pressure to do well in school and get good grades. The expectation to get a 1400 on your SAT or get all A’s in school tends to really stress out high school students� said student Teresa Ariza. Since the costs for education are rising, the importance of doing well increases. Resulting in teens stressing out. This can lead to anxiety, which can overall lead to serious depression, according to a Mayo Clinic article. Depression can lead to not only emotional changes, but behavioral changes. Studies show that depression causes teens to lose interest in the things they love most. They begin to no longer care for their appearance or their academic and athletic performance, which could affect their future. Is the amount of school
work and the pressure really worth the mental health issues?
Peer Pressure
The major pressures have moved from the academic setting to the social world. According to Psychologist Maria Martin, the main cause of stress in teens is pure pressure, contradicting what the students believe. “The expectations teens put on one another causes them stress and anxiety especially when they feel they can’t meet the expected norm. These are things like: weight (am I thin enough), looks (am I pretty enough), boyfriends/girlfriends ( no guy likes me/no girl likes me), others making fun of people, I.e bullying. Just to name a few….” Said Dr. Martin Peer pressure also includes popularity. According to MindyourMind, popularity is vital to most teens, and not enough of it can lower their self esteem. As well as the pressure to fit in by consuming drugs and alcohol at parties. The whole idea of fitting in causes anxiety in teenagers. What can we do to change that? Gulliver student, Ronan Colak said “I’ve seen many cases of students going through peer pressure inside and outside of school. Especially when it comes to drinking, juuling, and other drugs. Teens feel pressured by their friends to do it so they can feel cool.”
Social Media
“Mental health has always been an issue to teens. However, since the advent of social media, is it's now all around us” said Dr. Maria Martin. Social media has created a pressure to fit in and an ideal norm that teens can’t escape. According to a Child Mind Institute article, experts say that the rise of mental health issues is proof that social media is making the new generation non emotionally satisfied and socially isolated. Teens, girls especially, tend to compare themselves to what they see online. Girls scrolling through instagram come across pictures of models with perfect bodies. To them, that is the body they “must have”, and when they don't get it, depression kicks in. This can also lead to self confidence and self image issues. Social media, has overall sparked new troubles to the lives of teenagers and to the younger generation. Will this change? Could social media take a turn for the better?
Family reporting
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photo by Kate Perez
first
It’s normal to experience loneliness when a sibling leaves for college, but for Andrea Perez-Retes it was totally different. Her siblings are her best friends, and not seeing them every day felt wrong to her. It was feeling she didn’t want to face.
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My relationship with my siblings is a close-knit one. We have all been close since I was born; we have always been together. I can’t remember anything I did without one of my siblings by my side, whether it was my brother or my sister. My sister is the one I can go to for advice; she never fails to make me happy when I am upset. My brother is the one I can just talk to and joke around with. When they went off to college, I was beyond upset. I view my siblings as my best friends, and I tell them almost everything. So when they left, this was a big change for me. I would always go talk to them about my problems when I needed someone. I could walk down the hall to their rooms and see them whenever I wished to, but since they’re gone I can no longer do so. Now, I walk across the hall to find empty rooms. I feel lonely without them. My sister was the first to leave. This was really hard for me. We had a special bond -- we would talk about everything, I would help her pick out outfits, and we would jam out to music together. Now, when I need to talk to her, I have to pick up the phone and call her, which is not the same. Then my brother left. I feel alone having no siblings left at home. They both provided a loud, noticeable presence that comforted me. When they come to visit, however, it feels like they never left. I can’t express how happy I get when I see their faces again after a few months. It feels normal again, and I can finally tell them everything they missed out on. I trust them with absolutely anything and everything. If it wasn’t for them, I don’t know where I would be today.”
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Freshmen People
Wrote the portfolios for the yearbook
Embracing it
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reporting by Kate Perez
photo by Lucie Duchene
Two years ago, Bella Peterson found out she had to face the struggle of wearing a brace on her body every day. To her, this changed her life for the better. Having scoliosis, she faced changes that would alter her life forever. Now, Peterson looks back on her experience and feels grateful to be free from her brace.
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Scoliosis became a problem for me about a year and a half ago. In October of 2017 I was told I would have to wear a brace for 21 hours a day, and I was not able to play sports. The brace was very uncomfortable, and I was forced to buy a whole new wardrobe just so my clothes would be suitable for my brace. While it never severely affected me emotionally, it did affect me physically. It interfered with the amount of exercise I used to get, and I couldn’t participate in some of my favorite activities such as swimming. It was extremely hard for me to get ripped away from sports just because of a brace. Not only that, but I lost so much weight from wearing it. The brace affected my eating habits, since I ate a lot less than I used to. I truly think you can get used to a brace, I know I did. While at the start, it was scary for me to think I would be wrapped with cold hard plastic every day, after a few weeks, it was easy to get used to. At the start, I was so upset. I was in denial and believed I didn’t need to wear it. I definitely felt a little insecure because the brace really did look weird, but it was a struggle I had to face. Now, I no longer have to wear it as much anymore, and this makes me relieved. The brace felt like a burden I couldn’t get rid of. People always asked me if it was really “that bad,” but they never understood what it felt like to wear plastic around my body all day. You never really know how it feels until you have a personal experience with it. My experience was overall good, despite some weight issues here and there. I definitely learned to appreciate having my body healthy and free to move as I pleased. This was a life changing experience, and to be honest, I would never take it back for the world.”
Layout & Design Vanessa Rosales
Wrote the portfolios for the yearbook
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n o i t p e c n o c s i M Of Be
A possible layout made for the Literary Magazine
auty
Gabi Machado
Everyone wonders how to make themselves better is it looks or talk or being a trendsetter-
For many the goal is a tightening noose pulling-tearing-never quite looseOutside beauty is seen by all shiny locks, golden skin, and mostly skinny, and tallWhy does it matter how we look doesn’t inner self write the bookA beautiful wardrobe many will bless but even a monkey can slip on a dressExternal beauty is a gift of fate but inner beauty is what makes us great
Zip Odes 33176
Sunny all day Hot all year Bipolar Mostly friendly, fun, and king people here Home for the last 18 years By: Griffin Schweitzer
33146 An unfamiliar home A year of pain. A night at Vizcaya And now I feel good again.
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By: Isabel Cuellar
Breathtaking, beautiful, comforting Incomparable to others Miami The place I call home A forever paradise in my backyard By: Kate Perez
33133 Reflecting a life Looking towards Monty’s Boats Surround the area I see life By: Michel Wakil
33134 Miracle Mile, Granada Biltmore, Venetian Pool Historic Lots to see Many new people here By: Carolina Di Blasio
Nicole Herrera
A layout made for the Literary Magazine
HAIKUS
LIfe is all a lie, Government is listening They are watching you Carlos Acosta
The world is boring When everything is the same Think outside the box. Olivia PeĂąa
Nature in disguise A life transformed to wires Inhabits us all Sophia Takashi
Amanda Prager
Noisy, aggressive chirps And then the night comes around The birds sleep Kate Perez
A fragile egg lies, And emerges a creature, Swift and majestic. Chelsea Kuys
A layout made for the Literary Magazine
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About Me