COOPER BROCK1711 South Summerlin Avenue

Orlando FL, 32806ckw.brock@gmail.com

(407) 284-9973

May 27, 2011

Renee BurkeHi-Lights Newspaper Advisor2000 Mills Ave.Orlando FL, 32806

Dear Mrs. Burke:

I understand that the Hi-Lights newspaper staff is losing a lot of experience heading into this coming year. I believe my two years of experience in journalism would be of value to you in this predicament, and I ask that you accept this resume for your con-sideration. As an experienced asset to my current high school paper, I effectively manage dead-lines, have experience behind the camera, and experience behind the keyboard, designing pages. As a staffer, I have not specialized in a certain area of the publication, instead allowing myself to become well rounded in all fields of journalism. As such, I would be able to fill any position available, and perform any task required of me.

Creativity is one of my strengths that I can apply directly to your publication. I en-joy the endless possibilities a good knowledge of adjectives provide, as shown in my FSPA All Florida award for newspaper reviews in 2011. I am very opinionated, which is reflected in my editorial pieces, printed in my high school paper. A position on your staff would give me a chance to gain experience working with others, and writing out of my comfort zone.

Although this letter and included resume can give you a basic idea of what I can do for you, I’d like to elaborate in person. I feel a chance to speak with you in person would paint a better picture of my skills and how I can be an asset to you and your publica-tions.Respectfully yours, Cooper Brock

COOPER BROCK1711 South Summerlin Avenue

Orlando FL, 32806Ckw.brock@gmail.com

407-284-9973

OBJECTIVETo pursue creative interests in writing and design, produce an award winning publica-tion, and promote the flow of information as a member of the 2012 Hi-Lights staff.

EDUCATIONCompleted two years at William R. Boone High SchoolGraduation date: May 2013GPA: 3.0

EXPERIENCEBoone Hi-Lights Newspaper Staff• August 2009 – present. Wrote over 12 stories as a part of staff. Participated in rasing funds and taking photographs for the publication.Chic-fil-a • May 2011 – present. Served at front counter as a cashier, taking orders, provid-ing food, and providing further assistance.Christie Distribution• February 2011 – April 2011. Unboxed, packaged and labeled fair trade products created in India and Indonesia to be shipped nation-wide.

RELEVANT HIGH SCHOOL STUDIESJournalism II, Journalism III, Spanish I, Spanish II, Spanish III, English II Honors Gifted, and English I Honors Gifted.

HONORS, AWARDS, AND MEMBERSHIPS• FSPA All Florida Award: Newspaper Reviews 2011Award given in recognition of well written review. Highest FSPA honor in this catego-ry.• American Legion Award 2009Award given to those who show qualities of leadership, academic excellence and good character.• Scholar Athlete AwardAward presented to student athlete with highest highest GPA and involvement in ath-letic programs.

Afterfinishingupmysecondyearonstaff,Ihavecometorealizethatjournalismhasbecomesomuchmore

thanaclass,oraclubtome.Ithasbecomemylife.IhaveputmoretimeandeffortintothenewspaperstaffthanI

haveintotherestofmyclassescombined,butthatdoesn’treallymatter.Whatmattersis,thatIhavethoroughly

enjoyedeverysecondofit.

Ibecameinterestedinjournalismattheendof8thgrade,whenIwastryingtofigureoutwhatIwasgoing

todoforthenextfouryearsofmylife.Mysistersuggestedit,butInevergaveitseriousconsiderationuntilMadi-

sonSmithandElizabethCartwright,theEditorinchiefsofstaffatthetime,cameintomyEnglishclassroomand

enticedmewiththeirstoriesofwackymisadventuresonstaff.Iwasimmediatelydrawninaftertalkingatlength

withmysisteraboutthebenefitsofstaff.Afterapplying,andgettingaccepted,thefollowingyearwouldbeoneof

thetoughestbutmostrewardingyearsofmylife.

Iskippedthepre-requisiteJournalismIclass,whichmeantIwastopickuptherulesandprotocoloverthe

courseoftheyear.Itwasadisastrousyear,filledwithmisseddeadlinesandtruckloadsofstressforthosetryingto

helpme.ItwasthispastyearthatIbegantoachievesuccess,startingwithmakingmyfirstmetdeadlineonastory

thatendedupwinninganFSPAAllFloridaaward.Ifoundmyselfabletoanswerthenumerousrequestsforhelpfrom

thenewlyenlistedmembersofstaff.NottosaythatIwasn’tplaguedwithabitoftroublethisyear,butIfeelIhave

takenlargestepstogetwhereIamnow.

Comingintothisnext,thirdyearonstaff,myfeelingstowardsjournalismhavechanged,andstayedthe

same.Istillharboraloveforjournalism,justadifferentkindoflove.Inmyfreshmanyear,Iwasanxioustolearnand

becomeapartofthejournalisticprocess¬,andafterfinishingupmysecondyear,mypassionhasgainedanunder-

standingofwhatjournalismreallyis.Ilooktonextyearimpatiently,eagertosharewhatIhavelearnedwiththose

takingtheirfirststepsintojournalism.

Thiswasthemoreproductiveyearofmytwoasamemberofstaff.Ilearnedalotaboutmakingdeadline,

organizing,andsettingtimeasideforwork.

Duringmysecondyear,Imademyfirsttwodeadlines,afeatIhadnotpreviouslyperformed.Alotofthe

reasonIactuallymadedeadline,wasbecauseIwasproactiveaboutgettingthestorydone.Igatheredthenecessary

informationbeforepeeredits,andIworkedonthestoryathomebetweendeadlines.Ilearnedthatbeingonstaffisa

fulltimejob,andrequireseffortstobemadeinandoutofschool.

OrganizationwasanotherdepartmentImadestridesin.Althoughthefirstfewdeadlinesdidn’tshowit,by

theendoftheyearIfeltIhadfinallyfiguredoutthesystemofwritingandsubmittingstories.Inmylasttwodead-

lines,mysportsstorieswerewellwritten(althoughverylate)becauseIhadgatheredalltheinterviewsandstatis-

ticsIneededbeforethefinaldeadline.

Mainly,Ilearnedthateverythingstartswithbeingproactive.Ifyoucangetyourinterviewsdonebeforepeer

edits,doit.Havingaheadstartwillbeimmenselyhelpfulifyoufallbehindlaterinthedeadline.Writingyourstory

whileyouhavetime,beforeit’sdue,makestherestofthedeadlineslessaboutwriting,andmoreabouttweaking.

Gettinganearlystartcanalsohelpforadsales,asIlearnedthehardwaythisyear.IwaiteduntilAugustto

startsellingads,andbythen,mystreethadvirtuallybeenbleddryofmoney.Beatingthecrosscountryteamand

yearbookisoneofthebestadvantagesyoucangiveyourself,andnottakingthatadvantageisbeingveryunwise.

Overall,thisyearwaslessaboutlearningnewthings,andmoreabouttweakingwhatIalreadyknow.Hope-

fully,nextyearwillbetheyearIcanperformatmaximumcapacity,withoutmissingdeadline.

MyrestaurantreviewofBananaswaswithoutadoubtmymostsignificantpieceofworkthisyear.Itwas

wellwritten,descriptive,andhadalogicalflowofideas.ItalsoreceivedanFSPAAllFloridaawardforNewspaper

Reviews2011.

MypurposeforwritingwastogiveadetailedandthoroughopinionaboutBananas.Ithinkwentabove

andbeyondinthedescriptivesense.ItwasnotasdifficultasIanticipated,tryingtopiecetogetherallmythoughts

aboutBananas,asIdiscoveredalogicalordertoarrangethemin.Thehardestpartwastryingtofindspaceinthe

storyforallthebananapunsIcameupwith.Thetitle,“Newrestaurantgainsappeal,”wasthesinglegreatestpun-

headlineIhaveeverconceived.Iwassoproudofthisstory,andtogiveitsuchagreatheadlineseemedonlyfitting.

Thestorycamealongwayfromthefirstdraft.Myfirstdraftfilledonlyoneofthethreecolumnsprovided,and

didn’tgivethereaderanysortofideaabouttherestaurant.Bythethirddeadline,IhadmoreofanideaofhowIwas

goingtoorganizethepiece.Metaphorsandcreativesimileswerescatteredevenlythroughoutthereview,Itried

todescribeeachdishinasmuchdetail,ascreativelyaspossible,andIthinkIdidasatisfactoryjobofhelpingthe

readervisualizethefood.“Thisharmoniousblendofsavoryeggsandfreshavocadocreatesasymphonyofflavor

andtextureinone’smouth.”

WhatIenjoyedmostaboutwritingthisstorywasrealizingaftergoingtofinalthatIhadn’tratedtheres-

taurant.Itookacopyofmyreview,readitover,andIcouldn’tfindanysortofnegativecommentsabouttherestau-

rant.Iwassohappytogivetherestaurantfivestars,becausetheyhadreallyearnedit,anditfeltgoodtowritesuch

anappraisingreview.

Outofbothmyyearsonstaffthishasbecomemymostsignificantpiece,andtheonlypiecetoberecog-

nizedbytheFSPAinmyname.

Mysportsfeatureontheboy’sandgirl’sgolfteamwasmyleastfavoritestorythisyear.Iwasnothappy

withthefinalproduct,itwasnotfactuallysound,anditwaschoppy.Iwouldmakeseveraladjustmentstothestory

ifgivenachancetoredoit.

Idon’tenjoyreadingthestory,andIdoubtanyonedoes.Thequotesaren’talwaysrelevanttotheinforma-

tioninthepreviousparagraph,allofthestatisticsareincorrect,anditdoesn’treadsmoothly.Thatbeingsaid,I

learnedalotfromwritingthispiece.Ilearnedthatyoushouldalwaysdouble,oreventriplecheckyourstatistics

online(ifavailable),orwiththecoaches.Ilearnedthatyoushouldonlyinterviewathletesrelevanttotheinformation

presentedinthestory,notjustbecausethey’regood.Finally,Ilearnedthatifyoudon’tmaketheefforttogooutto

theactualgame,match,etc,you’llhaveamuchtoughertimewritingaboutwhathappened,becauseyouweren’t

there.

Thisstorywentthroughalotofdesignchanges,sothefirstdraftwasasinglecolumn,facts-onlydescrip-

tionoftheseason.Iteventuallyevolvedintoathreecolumn,quotefilleddisaster.TheplayersIinterviewedweren’t

veryinformed,soalmostallofmystatisticsanddateswerewrong.Lookingback,Iwouldhavedonethisdifferently

byreconfirmingalldatesandstatswiththecoach.

Mymainproblemwiththisstoryisthatitdidn’treadwell.Itseemedtojumparoundfromadatetoaquote,

andthenfromastatistictoanotherquotewithoutanysenseoffloworlogicalorder.Ifgiventhechancetochange

this,Iwouldhaveaddedmoreinformationonthegirl’steam,andwouldhavetriedtomakeamoregracefultransi-

tionbetweenthetwoteams.

I’mnotveryhappywithhowIdidonthegolfstory.I(andothers)foundmanyerrorsplaguingtheentire

piece,anditdoesn’tsoundlikesomethingIwouldwrite.Iamgratefulforthelessonsittaughtmethough,because

ithelpedmeavoidtheseproblemsinthefuture.

Iamveryproudofthispicture.

ItwasprintedintheOctoberissueinthe

sportssection,forthegolfstory.Ithasa

goodcenterofvisualinterest,whichisthe

golferhimself,andithasagoodflowtoit.

BythatImean,theeyesfollowtheclub

totheflyingchunksofgrass,andendup

attheball.Thephotoiscrystalclear,and

hasanicebackground.Itfillstheframe

completely,andI’mattractedtothisshot

becauseofthewayitcapturesthegolfer

justafterhisdrive.

Asamemberofthe2011Hi-Lightsstaff,Ihaveshownmycommitmentanddedicationtothestaffnumer-

oustimesandinnumerousways.Ihaverepresentedthestaffinclubevents,helpedraisefundsandwasaproduc-

tivewriter.

Throughoutthecourseoftheyear,Iparticipatedinseveraleventsundertheflagofthe2011Hi-Lights

staff.TheseincludetheReservationRun,GreenUpBoone,andRelayforLife.Ineachevent,thetimeIspentand

moneyIraisedwasrecordedundertheHi-Lightsstaff,notonlyhelpingtheeventcause,butalsoshowingthatthe

Hi-Lightsstaffhadadedicatedworkforce.Iraised20dollarsfortheReservationRun,raised100dollarsforand

spent14hoursattheRelayforLife,andIworkedforthreehoursatGreenUpBoone.Timeandtimeagain,Imade

surethattheHi-Lightsstaffwasrepresentedatmultipleschoolfunctions.

Ialsotookthetimetohelpraisefundsforstaffthroughouttheyear.Inthesummerbeforeschool,Itook4

hourshiftstopanhandleoutsideofPublixtoraisemoneyforcamp,althoughmyfeehadalreadybeenpaid.When

candysalesstarted,notonlydidIselltwoboxesforstaff,butIsoldmore150dollarsworthofotherstafferscandy,

totalingatover200dollarstowardsstaff.Duringtherummagesale,Iworkedbothshifts,eventhoughonlyonewas

required.Istayeduntiltheendofthedaytocleanuptheleftoversaswell.Attheendoftheyear,Iwas32dollars

overwhatwasaskedofme.

Asaoneyearveteranonstaff,Iwasanassettotheactualproductionofthepaperinmanyways.Iprovided

goodstories,althoughnotalwaysontime,Iwasrarelymarkedoffforcontent.Althoughmytimingcouldhavebeen

improved,thepiecesIcontributedwerewellwritten,andhadalogicalflowofideas.Iwasalsoahelpinghandwhen

itcametonewbiesindistress.Myexperienceonstaffprovidedusefulinformationandhelpednewbieslearntobe

selfsufficientonceItaughtthemaprocess.

Ireceivedalotmorethantherecommendeddoseofhardshipsandproblemsthispastyear.Timeandtime

againIwasplaguedbyprocrastination,disorganization,anddistractions.

Althoughwinningthe“BiggestProcrastinator”awardatthePublicationsbanquetshouldhavesentaclear

messagethatIneededtosetasidetimeformywork,Istillhadtroublemakingdeadline.Imadedeadlineonlytwice

thispastyear,andIwasaiming(realistically)forfour.PeereditsviaGoogleDocs,althoughintendedtosavepaper

andtime,endedupgivingmeanotherexcusenottobeontime.Therewasamuchmorediresenseofurgencywhen

fourhardcopiesofyourpeereditshadtobebroughttoclassforeverydeadline.IhavenowlearnedthatIwillsimply

havetowritethestorybeforeitisduetobesuccessfulonstaff.

Iwasalsoverydisorganizedthisyear,anotherproblemIhadhopedtohavesolvedbynow.Mystory-writing

processwasnotasefficientasIwouldhavelikedtohaveit,withinterviewsstillbeingdonebythetimethestory

wasduetotheCopyeditor.Nextyear,Iwillattempttodothingsinamuchmorelogicalorder,andearlyifpossible.

MygoalfornextyearistofinalstoriesearlysoIcanhelpourveryyoungstaffonit’swaytomeetingdeadline.

Afamiliarproblemfromlastyeargainedanewfacethisyear.Ibecameeasilydistractedduringworkdays

whenIwasaroundmyco-worker,peer,andbestfriendThomasEgan.Webothbecameawareofthisdilemmaearly

intheyear,wheneveryoneyelledatusaboutit.AsmuchasItriedtoremainfocusedonmywork,wewouldalways

findawaytodistracteachother,andI’mnotproudofthat.EvenwhenImadetheextraefforttomeetdeadlinein

themayissue,andsucceededinmyfirststory,Ipreventedthepaperfromgoingtopressontimebecauseofmy

secondstory.Fromanotheryearofmissingdeadlines,Ilearnedthatheadphonescanbeyourbestfriend.

Ihavemadeprogress,butIstilldidn’tperformasIwantedtothisyear,amistakeIdon’tplanonmaking

athirdtime.Asthestafflosesit’sseasonedseniors,Iunderstandthatthereisavoidofleadership,andthoseable

willhavetostepuptothechallenge.Withtwoyearsofexperienceundermybelt,andmultiplelessonslearned,my

responsecanbedescribedbythephrase,“Challengeaccepted.”

Inthenewspapermidterm,Iwasaskedwhatmygreatestweaknessis,relatedtopublications.Ianswered

“maintainingfocus.”Inthetimesincethen,notonlyhavemyworkhabitsimproved,butIhavestayedfocusedin

classtogreaterextentthanseeninthepast.

Duringtheworkdaysfollowingthemidterm,Ispentthemajorityofmytimestaringacomputerscreen,

desperatelytryingtomakedeadline.IwastedaslittletimeasIcould,andaftershowingupandeating,Isatdown,

anddidmyworkasbestasIcould.Iamhappyaboutcuttingdowntimegoofingaroundinclass,butIwishIwould

havemademoreprogressinmeetingdeadlines.

Ionlymetonedeadlineafterthemidterm,butIfeellikeIputamuchmorefocusedeffortintoallmysto-

ries.Thecontentwasbetter,andthestoriesreadwell.Whenmystoriesweregraded,theyweremainlymarkedoff

forbeinglate,notforbeingbadstories.Ifeltmyvoiceasawriterreallydefineditselfthisyear,andnowmywritingis

recognizableasmywork.

Iamdisappointedinthefactthatonlyonedeadlinewasmadeafterthehalfwaymark.IfeelIputasignifi-

cantlybettereffortintothatportionoftheyear,butlookingback,therewasstillroomtogoup.IunderstandthatI

wasn’tfocused100%ofthetime,butIstillfeelIputinabettereffortthanbefore,andsincerelyfeelIhaveim-

provedsinceAugust.

IdidnotimproveasmuchasIwouldhavelikedto,butimprovementsweremade.Thequalityofworkwent

up,theeffortputintotheworkwentup,andthetimespentgoofingaroundwentdown.Lookingtonextyear,Ihope

tokeepworkingonthisweaknessuntilIcaneffectivelybealeaderonstaff.

"The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an ener-gy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together." - Obi-wan Kenobi

Finishingupmysecondyearonstaff,itisonlynowthatIseehowmuchIhavegrown.Lookingbackinmy

previousportfolio,IseethatIhavemadeadvancesinmywritingability,designandoverallqualityofwork.

Beinganewbieonstaff,Ihadnothadthechancetofinetunemywriting,somystoriesandreflections

weresub-paratbest.Thisyear,myvoiceasawriterbegantoemerge,andInoticedIhaddevelopedacertainstyle

ofwritingbythelastissue.Ihadbecomecomfortableenoughwithmywritingabilitytostartattemptingtoinclude

creativitythroughoutmystories.Punsandheadlinesquicklybecamemyfavoriteaspectofwriting,becauseIcould

drawattentiontomystorywithacleverleadin.MyrestaurantreviewofBananasquicklybecamemymostaccom-

plishedwork,asIturneditinontime,anditwasactuallyaverygoodstory.

Mydesigningabilityhasalsogrownsincelastyear,withamoresophisticatedandmodernportfoliodesign,

andtwospreadsexhibitingmygrowth.Iwasabletotakeamoreactiveroleindesigningmypagesduringtheyearas

well,asshowninbothmygolfandwaterpolofeature.Mytrackstoryhadmymostinterestingsecondarycoverage,

andIenjoyedthelayoutofthestory,whichallowedforalargedominantgraphic.

Asanoverallstaffer,IfeelImadethemostprogress,jumpingfromnodeadlinesmet,totwodeadlinesmet.

Notveryimpressive,butthejoythatcamewithmeetingthefirstone,inspiredmetocontinuetofocusandwork

hardfortherestoftheyear.Iamcompletelyhappywiththefinalversionofallbutoneofmystories,andIfeellikeI

coveredthesubjectsthoroughly.

Myportfoliodesignisn’tmorecomplicated,butIthinkithasabetterstyleandlooktoit.Iamveryhappy

withhowitturnedout,andIlookforwardtoexceedingitagainnextyear.