Design Editor (2023-24) and writer Carmela Cadja first derived her appreciation for actor Christian Bale in an infamous video of his. “He has this clip where he screams at this guy for ruining a scene, and you can hear the emotion and passion in his voice. He’s really dedicated to acting and that’s very admirable,” Carmela said.
In very slight tandem with Bale, Carmela will also leave behind a legacy of passion and discipline within the layout realm of Zephyrus.
Carmela was first introduced to Zephyrus towards the end of freshman year, which operated virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The combination of aesthetic presentation and community connections prompted Carmela to join the publication during her sophomore year.
“I really liked the community aspect of Zephyrus that was advertised since when I was online I barely talked to anyone and felt very disconnected from Edina since I live in Burnsville, and so I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself,” Carmela said.
As design editor in both her junior and senior year, Carmela constantly improved the overall appeal of the print cycles, and the continual mentorship of layout staff progressed her own interpersonal skills. “I’m definitely more confident in my ability to lead people; it was a hard learning curve for me to be able to manage a group of people when they all have a different learning style and ability,” Carmela said.
Her favorite memories of Zephyrus include a trip to Boston for the National High School Press Association Convention, in which 2023-24 Copy Editor Lainey Maniak lost her voice. “She had a smoker’s voice the entire time, and anytime we were talking as a group you would hear her voice come through and it was the funniest thing ever,” Carmela said.
Following the conclusion of her senior year, Carmela plans to attend Georgetown University to major in Science Technology and International Relations. Specifically, Carmela intends to study astrophysics, which Carmela notes is “one of the coolest things in the universe.”
This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on May 24, 2024
