For many seniors, the senior ads in the yearbook are the perfect way to celebrate the end of four years of hard work in high school. Filled with adorable childhood pictures and endearing messages such as “Congratulations Johnny, we love you!” the ads are both visually exciting and fun to read.

However, many do not realize the intense work that goes into creating the senior ads. Each ad must be made by hand by one of three yearbook editors assigned to the task – seniors Krissy Termaine, Bansari Patel and Ellie Glasgow – and takes about 20 minutes. With a total of 254 ads this year, this adds up to 80 hours of work.

And this is if everything goes smoothly with the ads. But there are inevitable problems along with the way, including senior ads being sent in late or incomplete. “There are lots of incomplete orders and blank CDs. And some pictures come in the mail, while others come by email,” said yearbook adviser Ms. Kelly Mulligan.

“It is also hard if the parents are picky about what they want in their ads,” said senior Krissy Tremaine. “We try to start the first day of school and complete the ads on a first come first serve basis,” explained editor, Krissy Tremaine.

The three editors create the ads using InDesign, the same software that is used to make magazines and newspapers. Parents provide the pictures and text, and the editors must integrate the information into a visually appealing presentation of the ad’s message.