Editorial Board 2016 (My experience as the chief editor)
It was during early 2015. Iman, Sofia and I planned on applying for a spot in Editorial Board team together and after several tests, we made it; Sofia got a place in the article team, Iman and I in the graphics team. That was where it all started. We were swamped with works even though we're the juniors (who are supposed to be only like assistants for the seniors). I got the most workload, mainly because I am already familiar with Photoshop and is experienced. I didn't mind really, but after discovering that some of the seniors didn't do any of their works at all, I became mad. I kept quiet of course, I didn't have any place to complain or anything so I did all my piling work plus homeworksand sent them in. Even after school ended, I had to go back to school just to finish the magazine which was not mine. I even made the magazine's cover and I was expecting RM300 like the principal promised, but it never came.
Naturally, I became the chief editor during my senior year and I was tremendously excited at first. Excited about scouting new form 4 students, excited about planning the draft for the magazine and all. The excitement slowly died as I was once again, struggled to juggle the studying, homework and editorial board at a time. I survived though I didn't exactly do all of my homework. I became too lazy to study for SPM because I honestly felt a bit exhausted from all the responsibilities. Not to mention, I have softball training every evening after school; imagine the state I was in.
The editorial board team's advisor was breathing down my neck for the magazine progress every day and she always got the same answer- "Not yet,". I tried distributing tasks for the team members but somehow, there's always somebody that didn't do their given task and then supplied me with irrelevant excuse but being the good person I am, I remain calm and brush it off, giving them another chance to get it done.
Needless to say, I can confidently say that I did 40% of the magazine, Iman & Sofia 20% each, and the other members 20% altogether. I did all the layouts, designs, without any help from others. Iman supported me enough and she already had her own workload. Sofia was an article member and she wasn't supposed to be doing graphic team's work, but she did because of how incompetent the others were. We suffered, really. I was always the one that received scolding from our advisor; never mind if it was my mistakes or other team members. We spent two months after graduating still working on the magazine. My cover was yet again chosen but history repeats itself and I didn't get the promised money rewards, for two years straight.
We did have a lunch together though, we tried to forget about the magazine for awhile and just enjoy ourselves and we did. Killing two birds with one stone; we immediately took pictures at the restaurant to be put in the magazine. It turned out really pretty.
And at last the magazines were printed out and distributed to the now-form-5 students and we'll get ours during SPM result announcement. Everybody were throwing praises at how pretty it came out to be and even though I tried to be happy and bask in all the compliments, I always remembered how much us three faced hardships and distress just to complete that one measly magazine that people will probably forget over the years, corners of the pages frayed and torn- ending up in the trash afterward. I was over-thinking I know so right now I'm going to just be proud of myself that we made it (even though our relationship with the advisor is a little strained) and just, I don't know. Try not to think about it too much I guess.
