For me the iliad is more than just a literary-art magazine, it’s about the people. The iliad is a way to give artists of all kinds a place to showcase their work. And while being a part of its editorial board requires a lot of time, energy, and commitment, the reward of seeing an artist proud of being published is worth it. I’m a part of iliad because of the people and my own desire to give artists a positive space, to showcase and create art.
Being a part of iliad is important to me because finding out about the iliad and being able to showcase my own art helped me on my path to becoming a designer. and I feel representation of artists in our building is something that can only have a positive effect. I want to be able to help artists find their way. When I spend time outside of class designing and coming up with my design ideas it’s because I love designing, it makes me happy and it makes me feel like myself. I’m a part of the iliad not only for myself but also because of the people who support me and my dream. It inspires me to have a community that sees my work and thinks it is something they want to see me pursue.
- Olivia Daniel, Design Editor
My junior year being a part of an aspect of ODYSSEY or iliad wasn’t my priority but I knew it was a piece of my high school experience I didn’t want to lose. I knew I’d be incredibly busy during my junior year. Even though I was incredibly busy; I missed being a part of the program, so I came back full-time. I came back to iliad this year because I wanted to prove to myself that I could be great within this program. The work that the people do around me and the people in the program are very important to me, and have helped me grow; so I wanted to do my best for myself and them.
Last year, I got to know so many new people on staff and talk with the freshman which is very important to me because they not only grow the program but it’s amazing to see them grow within the program too. This year, I’m getting to know the iliad staff better and I love the creative freedom I have when doing my job but also the new and bigger responsibilities I have with being Outreach Director. I feel like I’m growing already and while it’s sometimes scary to be as interactive. I’m grateful that I’m stepping back into a part of myself I lost with the pandemic and regaining my sea legs. I’m very excited to be on staff this year and work with my friends!
- Salai Diekumpuna, Outreach Director
When I first learned of the iliad in eighth grade I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. iliad has everything I enjoy doing like creating art, looking at art, and working with other people who also enjoy art. I think the iliad is a great opportunity for young students to have their work seen and acknowledged. It can inspire students to pursue their dreams or just keep on creating. Likewise, the program inspires me to create and I really enjoy being a part of the "behind-the-scenes."
The iliad Ed-board is a great program for contributing ideas for upcoming events and club meetings. I like having my ideas and creativity be heard; being a part of the Editorial Board is a perfect opportunity for me to share them. To me, the iliad is fun and very creative. Since it's a student-run organization, everyone works well with each other and the program is successful. It's also fun to be surrounded by my teammates; planning, sharing, and having fun. I've finally found a place at school that I feel passionate about which gives me so much motivation and hope.
- Olivia Hendershot, Social Media Coordinator
I am a part of iliad because being a part of the Editorial Board broadens my horizons to new forms of creative expression. I believe every student at Clarke Central has something to offer and I want to be able to showcase what they have to offer. Being a part of iliad has helped me learn more about myself; how I lead and communicate with others. Also, how I create a space for creativity for the students at my school.
- Cate DeMaria, Business Manager
I am a part of iliad because I am incredibly passionate about encouraging creativity, especially in high school students. Much of the high school curriculum lacks an outlet for creativity and I wanted to continue the iliad’s work of offering a place that empowers student artists and writers by publishing their work. A lot of my work as Editor-in-Chief has been expanding the iliad’s network in our community, so we can positively impact it. I look forward to furthering this so the entire Athens community has the opportunity to see the incredible creativity that Clarke Central has to offer.
- Kaija Gilbertson-Hall, Editor-in-Chief
I’m a part of the iliad because I believe it’s important to have a safe space to share creative work, and I hope to cultivate that environment at Clarke Central through my work with the iliad. Another reason I do iliad is because of my passion for writing. I’ve enjoyed creative writing for as long as I can remember. So, as a writer and an artist, I want to be a part of the process of creating the iliad literary-art magazine and work on the iliad website. I think that iliad is a place within the school where people can freely share their creativity, and I want to help students share their perspectives through writing and artwork.
- Maya Shrivastav, Writing Director
I’m part of iliad because through this program, I get to work with many of Clarke Central’s talented writers and artists. I enjoy being able to support creative students by helping to produce a magazine where they can share their work. In addition to enjoying the magazine design component of iliad, I also love encouraging students to make art in the club meetings, and I like being part of the program’s presence at community events.
I loved my work as Visuals Director last year because I was able to interact personally with the featured artists and I got to give class talks in the art department. This year, I have enjoyed planning staff and club meetings through my position as Managing Editor. iliad is an organization with many facets and I have many reasons for being part of the program, but the most important reason for me is that by doing my part in iliad, so I can continue to support the art and creative writing community at Clarke Central.
- Ethan Caspary-Poucher, Managing Editor