Ariella Zecchini: Print Media Portfolio

Ariella Zecchini Portfolio

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to express my strong interest in applying for a position on one of your publications. As an avid reader and communicator, I am drawn to the dynamic world of journalism and the opportunity to contribute to the success of your company in delivering compelling content to its audience.

Being a staffer and layout designer in the Gulliver Preparatory Yearbook has given me a solid educational background in journalism and hands-on experience in media production, I am confident in my ability to excel in a position within your team. These past two years in print media production, I have honed my skills in news writing, investigative reporting, and multimedia storytelling, which would make me a wonderful addition to your team.

During my academic journey, I have engaged in internships and extracurricular activities that allowed me to develop a well-rounded skill set in the field. My involvement in the yearbook team provided me with knowledge of editorial processes, layout design, and photojournalism. I also developed multiple design and marketing skills while running social media platforms for a travel destination.

I am highly proficient in using industry-standard software and digital tools, including Ado be Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator, and social media management platforms. My strong attention to detail, combined with my ability to meet deadlines in fast-paced environments, allows me to consistently deliver high-quality work under pressure.

I am excited about the opportunity to join your team and contribute to the continued success of your publication.

Thank you for considering my application. I have attached my resume for your review, which provides further details on my qualifications and experiences.

Sincerely,

Ariella Zecchini

Ariella

305-905-9268

ariellazecchini@gmail.com

@ariellazecchini

EDUCATION

Gulliver Preparatory School

Class of 2025

GPA: 5.33

WORK EXPERIENCE

Social Media Manager

Managed the social media pages such as TikTok for an Airbnb travel destination (@casajaguarundi). Filmed, edited, and posted the advertisements.

Gulliver Preparatory Yearbook

Created spreads for the yearbook. This included photographing student activities, creating graphic designs and layouts, and writing articles. The book went on to win a CSPA Silver Crown.

Achieve Summer Camp Counselor

Led the elementary students at the Achieve Miami program throughout their day to day activities at summer camp. I was the head of the music sector and taught them to play the piano, drums, and xylophone for a performance at the end of the summer.

EXTRACURRICULAR AND ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

Peer Health Educator for HIP

Teach the freshman class on important health subjects including the dangers of substance abuse and the importance of mental health.

Soccer Team

Member of the Gulliver JV Soccer team.

Member of the Gulliver Varsity Soccer team.

Diamond Challenge Finalist

Went to the Diamond Challenge Finals with an entrepreneurial team. Created a business plan and competed against international teams.

AWARDS AND HONOR SOCIETIES

FSPA Honorable Mention for Academic Photos & Feature Photography

FSPA Excellence for Nature Photography

FSPA Honorable Mention for Computer-Draw Illustrations

FSPA All-Florida Award for Yearbook Student Life Spread

FSPA All-Florida Award for Yearbook Club Spread

FSPA Best of the Best for Yearbook Club Spread

National Honor Society

National French Honor Society

National English Honor Society

Excellence in Print Media Production and Design

REFERENCE

Monica Rodriguez Yearbook Advisor

305-905-9268

ariellazecchini@gmail.com @ariellazecchini

Reflections

1. Most significant piece of the year

2. Contributions to staff

3. Weaknesses

4. Photography

When it comes to choosing my most significant piece of work for this year’s publication, I would like to talk about the spread I created for the bio-med class’s lab on diabetes. The reason I consider this to be my best work is because it challenged me both technically and creatively.

My purpose in creating this spread was to portray the final lab that the bio-med class completed, and show the class’s growth throughout the year. I fashioned it like a modular spread, with the last lab in the middle, and labs that occurred earlier in the year off to the sides. I wanted to make sure that the spread captured the essence of the lab and conveyed the importance of the class to the readers.

The task wasn’t easy as it came at a stressful time when the deadline for the yearbook was approaching, and I had to take the pictures of the lab myself. The lab kept getting pushed back, giving me less and less time to interview, take pictures, and write the article, but despite the pressure, I felt excited to take on this project, and I dove right into it. The work evolved significantly from my first effort to the published piece. Initially, I struggled with the layout, the colors, and the text. It started out as a “basic” spread, but as I worked on it more, I began to experiment with different designs, fonts, and color schemes. Throughout the process, I implemented what I had learned about design throughout the year, and it came out in a way that is both visually engaging and easy to understand. I used different colors to separate the different labs, and arranged the photos in a way that made the spread have movement and flow. What I particularly like about the finished product is the unique design I came up with. The use of color boxes helps draw the reader’s attention to the key aspects of the labs.

Overall, I’m extremely proud of the final product. Despite the challenges I faced along the way, I feel that I was able to create a spread that accurately reflects what the bio-med class was all about this year.

caused by diabetes, which led to her stroke,” Garcia said.

the imaginary patient Ana Garcia died from a blood clot

experience,” sophomore Emma Navarro said. Story by Ariella

Zecchini

lab connects to our crime scene lab when we find out how

lot of people can be negatively affected by diabetes. This

and since want to be a doctor, think it is such a great

“I have been in the Biomed program for two years now,

“This unit is really interesting and really important, since a

insulin and their roles in the body.

learned in class, starting by learning about glucose and

students to apply the knowledge that they had previously

find out their insulin levels. This hands-on lab challenged

using insulin indicators and clients’ plasma samples to

said. The first-year class dove into glucose tolerance testing,

to be very careful not to add too many droplets,” Die-Dienes

tweezers and pipettes to add the insulin indicator. We had

“The PH strips were very sensitive, so we had to use

patient did not have diabetes.

L

to determine insulin levels and to assure that a

added insulin indicator to plasma PH samplesand Emma Die-Dienes slowly and carefully

ooking over closely, freshmen Salome Garcia

diabetes in different patients.

serve them well in future endeavors.

students in the biomedical program identified

Using what they learned throughout the year,

Ariella Zecchini

conclusions based on findings were invaluable and would

interpret and analyze data, identify patterns, and draw

analytical and critical thinking skills. Learning how to

The lab also gave them an opportunity to develop their

iabetic iscoveries d

that could

the

changed colors,” Serralta said. Photos by

drops affected the plasma and how it

“It was really cool to see how the insulin

insulin levels or held a high blood sugar.

determined if the patients held normal

Indicator Color Chart, and then they

each plasma circle to the Insulin Test

they compared the color of the fluid in

letting the solution and the plasma mix,

their insulin levels. After ten seconds of

the patients’ plasma, the girls determined

indicator droplets and adding them to

five different patients. Using these insulin

some solution to add to a worksheet with

freshman Sophia Harari slowly take

crimeSCENE

to different causes of deaths,

about symptoms that connected

said.

freshman Josephine Meeschaert

Tomas Bellatin ‘25

Ana Garcia. The class previously learned

what we had learned so far,”

year and really helped connect

the cause of death of the fictional

which were used to determine

“This lab was a fun start to the

included hair and blood DNA,

which then led to a stroke.

clues all around it. These clues

blood clot caused by diabetes,

that the cause of death was a

a skeleton on the floor, with

Biomedical Science class found

scene investigators and found

of the year, the freshmen

students played the role of crime

of murder. With these clues, the

As one of the first projects

such as strokes, diabetic comas, and the non-health related cause

this class.”

glad I decided to take

later in life, and am so

lot that will be useful

field. have learned a

work in the medical

people that want to

for aspiring doctors or

think that the

experiments to investigate how height affected bloodstain

Once they determined this, they designed their own

height from which the blood fell.

the given bloodstain patterns, students determined the

was the final test of their knowledge on the subject. Using

play. The class discussed bloodstain analysis, and the lab

scene to determine if the death was an accident or foul

created blood splatters to figure out the events of a crime

Carefully, freshman Sophia Harari reached out and

crime scene.

patterns are important in a

showing how bloodstain

patterns. The class did an experiment

SPLATTER

could be so important, ” Herrera said. Photos by blood

Emma Die-Dienes

interesting, because I never knew bloodstains

Biomedical students evaluated the cause of BEING CAREFUL NOT TO SPILL,

affected bloodstain patterns. “This lab was really

information collected to determine how height

and the angle of the splatter and used the

lab. The girls then measured the diameter

“blood” while participating in the blood splatter

Harari and Isabella Herrera drip beads of

Biomedical Science

program is a great one

Over the past year, I have been proud to contribute my skills and expertise to the staff and publication of the yearbook. My commitment to this project has been continuous, and I am pleased to say that I have been an asset to both the staff and the publication in a number of ways.

First, I am proud to have created a design element that was used as a standard throughout the whole book, that was the box for pullout quotes which had two rounded corners diagonal from each other. I enjoyed the creative process and was happy to see my design integrated into the book’s overall theme and aesthetic. I created eight spreads, took photos when asked, went to games, wrote articles, and designed layouts. I am very proud of the spreads I created, as I put a lot of effort into researching, and crafting stories so that they captured the essence of the year.

This past year, I have developed my communication skills and learned how to work effectively in a team environment. I have also learned how to manage my time effectively and meet deadlines with less stress. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this project and to work with this dedicated and talented staff.

One of the biggest challenges I faced was with writing articles and getting sufficient pictures for my spreads. This was a weakness that I knew I needed to work on quickly and improve. At first, I struggled with coming up with ideas for articles and finding the right angle to approach a story. I also found it challenging to get pictures that would effectively capture the essence of the stories and the overall year. I asked Ava, one of my editors for guidance and she helped me improve my articles.

I spent more time brainstorming and outlining my ideas, and I got feedback from my editors to help better my writing style. I also made an effort to read more articles and study the writing techniques used by journalists. In terms of photography, I worked on my composition skills and learned how to use different lighting techniques to capture better images.

The first picture that I am proud of was taken during the bio-med class and was featured in the bio-med spread. This picture captures the fun and excitement of the class, with a student smiling and engaged in a hands-on activity. The picture is visually appealing because it follows photographic elements such as the rule of thirds, with the students positioned more towards the left of the frame. Additionally, the image has a great depth of field, with the foreground and background both in focus.

The second picture that I am proud of was taken during club rush. This picture captures the excitement and emotion of the event, with two students congratulating each other and smiling shaking hands after joining the same club. I am proud of this picture because it also follows the rule of thirds, with the main focus of the picture to the right. Additionally, the image has great framing, there are no students facing the camera in the background to distract from the main subjects of the photo.

The third picture that I am proud of was also taken during the bio-med lab. This picture utilizes leading lines and the rule of thirds to draw the viewer’s eye towards the central focus of the picture, which is the students conducting the lab. The image has great depth of field, with the background slightly blurred to draw more attention to the students in the foreground. Overall, I am proud of this picture because it captures the focus and concentration of the students while also using strong composition elements.

Clips

Writing Design Photography Graphics

162

the other team

and get

GETTING ball

balls

runner to get an out for the other team. do it,” Perez said. Photos by Fox Mar

catches the ball and reaches to tag the out, but she was too fast and could not

ran to catch the

shortstop, and was slowly getting better at

LOW, sophomore Jenna Perez the girl from

team and play our hearts out on the field,” Mullen said. mid air.

She had been working a new position as

sophomore Bella Burns said. Story by

Ariella Zecchini

doing tee drills, bunting, and short tosses.

STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE,

Jenna

sophomore

team.

favorite parts of themy teammates, which is one of my

the coaches and

I have really developed a close relationship with

for almost 3 years,

softball program

After being in the

“

team adjusted to a new dynamic to find

and new experiences to navigate, the

we will motivate each other to get better,”

Coach Bowen will keep pushing us, and

group of players. With many newcomers

the team, the girls adapted to a new

we will be able to make a comeback soon.

seniors who played important roles on

the field. “We will have to work hard, but I think

its challenges. After losing three key

However, the game was not without

confident that they would find success on

circumstances,” Bowen said.

doing pretty well against them, given the

errors that accumulated, but we were

while, and then, we started making little

Jordyn Mullen. “We were holding up well for quite a

to catch a high pitch thrown by freshman

captain senior Hadley Bowen reaching

the girls held up wonderfully with team

Despite the challenging conditions,

district, Florida Christian.

one of the best teams in the

softball team faced off against

On the windy day of Mar. 3, the

start of their season.

tough games at the

went through a few

support of their teammates, they felt

of their coach Danielle Bowen and the

growing together. With the guidance

focused on their goal of improving and

The team remained determined and

sophomore Jenna Perez said.

better and get our routine down,” captain

on the scoreboard soon. I think we will get

in practice. Hopefully, we can see them

every day, and there are results showing

practice. “We are working to make the team better

noticeable improvements showing in

its footing. They focused on building teamwork, communication, and trust on

the field. Their hard work paid off, with

The girls softball team

ROCKY start

could shift direction easily at any moment,”

pretty windy so the balls were kind of unpredictable, and they

was

stretches her arm out, catching the ball thrown by her teammate. “It

Hadley Bowen

REACHING, senior catcher Mar

will not be playing for a college,” Bowen said. Photo by Fox Mar

probably find some way to play in college, even though

it feels like am saying good bye to a part of me. will

years, knew I wanted play softball. Now that I am leaving,

since was little. After watching the team for so many

mom’s team play. “I have been watching the softball team

growing up, Bowen spent a lot of her time watching her

Director Danielle Bowen , is the team’s coach, and

before Bowen went off to college. Bowen’s mom, Activities

cherished the moments in their final season together

sophomore Jenna Perez, with a smile. They both

Senior Hadley Bowen tightly hugged her teammate,

The captain shared a nostalgic moment in the locker room. said.

final MOMENTS

DESIGN ELEMENTS & GRAPHICS

Bar Graphs

Graphic Designs

Connecting Titles

Timeline/Cutouts

Ariella Zecchini