By: Jordan Hasty, Staff Writer
In previous years, leadership and yearbook have aided in fostering a positive and motivating culture within Mills High School. Considering the highly interactive dynamic of each class, the switch to virtual learning was an abrupt and significant shift. Though challenging, both leadership and yearbook have efficiently planned numerous events to incorporate more excitement and spirit into the current school year. Leadership is focusing on many exciting projects, such as: a social justice/BLM podcast, video games tournament, and broadening mental health awareness resources. Amidst these activities, yearbook is working towards creating an eclectic, unique theme for the yearbook, suiting the unordinary year we’ve had thus far. Apart from that, the yearbook class is aiming towards collecting engaging content, which captures a clear glimpse of the way the 2020-2021 school year has played out.
Students and teachers alike feel that the switch to distance education has inflicted a disconnect between everyone, especially in the leadership class. In order to best combat the detachment, the leadership class is in the works of coordinating events to help keep the community connected. They plan to hold digital spirit days, as well as digital game tournaments for all students to participate in and enjoy. Despite the discouragement that seniors attending Mills may be experiencing, Leadership teacher, Ms. Dove stated, “I am hopeful that we will be able to hold an event for the seniors, where everyone can be in the same place at the same time.” In addition, Leadership is placing mental health awareness at the forefront. The well-being of students is especially important considering the challenges they may have faced thus far. A podcast, titled “Vikings Talk: Social Injustice” is being created, focusing on social justice issues around the world and highlights the BLM movement. Leadership student, Vananh Tran (12), who is part of the BLM group in Leadership and aided in putting the podcast together, said it is meant to “educate those unaware of the injustices that occur in our world. We’re hoping to influence real change within our community and uplift student voices.” Each episode is meant to encourage Mills students to take a stand, and speak their mind on important issues that need to be addressed. Simultaneously, they hope to shine light on the struggles minorities face daily. Ultimately, creating a safe, welcoming, and empowering environment within the student body is Leadership’s top priority.
At the moment, students are working collaboratively with each other to map out plans to design and construct an appealing, compelling yearbook which represents this academic year accurately. Though this year has taken various twists and turns, there is no denying that encapsulating our memories is more important now than ever. As Yearbook teacher, Ms. Mullins, mentioned, “50 years from now, students will look back at their yearbooks and reminisce about memories they may have forgotten.” For the rest of our lives, we will be talking about the 2020-21 school year, heightening the importance of having a physical copy with each moment that took place amongst the chaos. Expectedly, the content within this year’s version will not include the normal aspects of the annual yearbook. Ms. Mullins emphasizes the importance of, “students and teachers capturing moments of day-to-day virtual learning, for instance, school projects, desk setups, [possible] spirit day participants, and more”. Along this course of action, gathering visuals will be made much easier, ensuring for a well-constructed yearbook. Aside from this, Yearbook is planning various ideas for content that students will enjoy. This year, the yearbook will likely become our most unique and treasured, and the entire yearbook class hopes to make it the most captivating version yet.
In spite of COVID-19’s attempt to alter the effectiveness of creating, planning, and executing an interactive, spirited school year, as well as an alluring, content-filled yearbook, both Leadership and Yearbook have managed to pull through. So long as the Mills community comes together to make this year better as a whole, the likelihood of a smooth year will increase. We are all facing these challenges as one, so it is important to recognize that we are in this together. By utilizing the power of social media, and encapsulating this momentous year coherently, both classes aim to make this school year much more unforgettable.
