Suzanne Alexander is known at Bishop Carroll as a yearbook photographer and general school club enthusiast.
She’s also a member of the Bishop Carroll Youth for Justice club, the school spirit club (Casey Council), the girls’ rugby team, and the drama productions.
YAA: What’s it like being a yearbook photographer? I saw you get right up close during the Talent Show. Was that nerve-racking?
SA: It’s an absolute blast. It’s a great opportunity to attend school events, meet new people and practice my photography. Most of the time I love being able to get right up in the student and staff’s faces, but it can get a tad awkward, like at the talent show. The lighting in they used for the show was not ideal for my purposes as a photographer, so it was necessary to get as many shots as possible using different camera settings (flash, no flash, slow shutter speed, fast shutter speed, etc.) and to get really close to the performers to make sure I got good shots, but it was weird that everyone in there was watching me in addition to the person performing! I didn’t let that stop me though because I’ve learned that you can’t be shy if you want to get the shot. I have also found that working for the yearbook has encouraged me to attend many more school events than I otherwise wouldn’t have gone to, like this year I managed to make it to almost every football game!
YAA: You’re also on a lot of other clubs, how do you balance?
SA: It is for sure a challenge, but I am so grateful that I go to Bishop Carroll as opposed to a regular high school. For those who don’t know, Bishop Carroll is a high school that is entirely independant learning. We don’t have regular classes or any set schedules, which is great for people like me who love to do everything. I am able to do so much because I make my own schedule and decide what courses I work on when; I don’t necessarily have to spend my school time doing school work. I can go into rescource centers (library-like rooms with desks for students to work at and teachers there to help with any questions) and take candid photos for yearbook, help organize the pep ralley, or design costumes for out drama productions during school hours as long as I stay organized and do my homework in the evening or work my butt off in a month with less things to do in my other clubs. Sometimes I struggle keeping organized and managing my time, but my teacher advisor and other adults in the school are always there to help me out when I need it. I honestly couldn’t imagine being at another school, and if I was I wouldn’t be involved in nearly as much!
YAA: What is it like to be on the rugby team? Girls’ rugby doesn’t have the best reputation.
SA: This is my second season playing and it’s been great. I’d never played before last year, so I was nervous starting out. Especially seeing how rugby is one of the most confusing sports ever! I was lucky to have so many talented and understanding senior players to help me out, and kick me in the butt when I was slacking, because that made my first season an awesome experience. I have always been very sporty and loved the challenge of learning a new sport. I found rugby to be a truly exhillerating, competitive and social sport. I have made many new friends because of it and gained physical and mental toughness.
People always think that the only girls that play rugby are “butch,” but I can assure you this is not the case. I wouldn’t fit this stereotype and neither would any of the girls on my team. It suprises people when I tell them I play rugby because I don’t fit the ridiculous preconceptions that come with the sport, but this doesn’t always bother me because I’m proving them wrong. I love showing the world that girls who play rugby come all different shapes, sizes, backgrounds and interests!
YAA: Has your work for the yearbook improved your photography skills?
SA: Absolutely. The best way to get better at taking photos is by taking as many as possible. I pretty much take my camera everywhere and recently bought a small point and shoot camera so I could take photos at times when it’s impossible to lug aroung a large DSLR camera, like when I’m skiing. I’ve also learned lots by talking to other photographers in the yearbook club and out, and finding out what techniques they use and like. I still have so much to learn, especially when it comes to the technical side of things, so speaking to these people and looking at their work has been really beneficial. I’ve also learned how important it is to look through the photos I’ve taken to see what I like and dislike about them. By doing this I’ve noticed many bad habits and been able to change them. A great example of this was with football; at the beginning of the season I had a tendency to have way too much grass in the foreground of the picture and the players (along with all the action!)Â squished in at the top, but because I took the time to notice my mistakes I stopped making as many as the season went on.
YAA: Would you recommend the yearbook club for new grade ten students?
SA: Most definitely. If a student is looking to join one club in their first year of high school yearbook would be their best bet for a few reasons. The whole process of making the yearbook is a very interesting one to watch and teaches all about compromise, artistic differences and colaborating with others. It is also one of the clubs that universities and employers love to see on a resume because of the things it teaches. Personally these are not the initial reasons I had for joining yearbook; I was mostly interested in developing my photography skills and learning to use Adobe Photoshop programs, but learning everything else is just an added bonus.
If you’d like to hear more from Suzanne, and hear her thoughts on Encounters with Canada, visit her blog.