Like its namesake, evergreen content stays fresh for a long time, unlike the tie-dye loungewear we are still trying to forget. While you should definitely include polls and trends in your yearbook (it is the story of the year after all), open-ended interview questions (such as the 40+ we are giving you below) should remain in your repertoire for three reasons:
- Stories and people change.
If you’re pulling out meaningful quotes from your subjects, you could ask the same question to three different students and receive three unique POVs. - Stuff happens.
Anyone who made a yearbook in 2020 knows the pain of filling pages. Global pandemics aside, events get canceled. Photographers don’t show up. Parents don’t always email photos. Evergreen content will help fill in the gaps. - “I have nothing to do.” – Yearbook Student
We’re with you: there is always something to do. That said, building out evergreen content for your yearbook as a weekly assignment will give students a way to hone interviewing skills and give you a collection from which to draw if #2 above happens.
For ease of use, we organized these interview questions by yearbook section. Grab your editorial team and create your list!
Student Life
Because some of your formative moments occur outside the classroom, be sure to include all that goes into the school day.
Campus Life
- Research rumors about the school: secret hallways, urban legends, hidden treasures
- If you could change one thing about the school, what would it be?
- What school hacks do you use?
- How do you pass time during passing periods?
- School uniforms: how do you express your personal style?
- If you were cooking for the school, what would you make?
- What are the best playground games?
Routine
- What’s your morning routine?
- How do you get it all done?
- What’s your commute like?
- What’s in your backpack?
- What will you never leave home without?
- Lunch: how do you spend your time? Who has the most drool-worthy lunch?
People
These questions make great sidebars to go along your portrait pages.
Milestones
- What was your first job, concert, etc.? (Here are a bunch more to ask teachers!)
- Describe getting your driver’s license.
- What do you do with your (summer) job wages?
- When was the last time you were grounded? Why?
- Which childhood foods will you eat forever?
- What is your biggest change in the last four years?
Interests
- What are you passionate about?
- What activities do you do outside of school?
- What is a must-see place in town?
- Who do you look up to? Why?
Academics
- Most embarrassing moments
- Worst school-related nightmares
- This year I was proud of…
- Lightbulb moments
- SAT/ACT/CLT prep strategies
- How do you prepare for finals?
- What do you do with your summer job earnings?
- What’s next?
Athletics
- What makes us different than our rivals?
- What non-school sports are you involved in?
- How do you stay in shape during the off-season?
- For bi-sport and tri-sport athletes: How is training for [sport] different than [sport]?
- How do you balance being a student-athlete?
- What is your pre-game playlist?
- What traditions does the team have?
Bonus: Trending Topics
Add content on the following to complement the evergreen content in your yearbook.
- What’s in the news this year?
- Rock the vote: politics in school
- Fashion trends and style inspiration
- All about hair, makeup, and beauty
- Favorite TV shows, music artists, and movies
- Viral dance moves of the year
- Your go-to memes/gifs
- New technology
For even more interviewing tips, check out the yearbook storytelling module from Treering’s free curriculum.
