From my earliest years, my love for the written word grew from the floor of my hometown newspaper, owned and managed by my parents. When I learned to hold a pen in my hands, my imagination took off running and never stopped. In a high school journalism class, my storytelling abilities evolved from creative writing to sharing news and real people’s stories. This passion for writing and the humanities fueled my fire while studying at Michigan State’s Residential College in the Arts and Humanities.
MSU provided a plethora of opportunities to strengthen and diversify my writing. Through the RCAH Prison Poetry Project, I created and facilitated arts workshops for incarcerated men at correctional facilities in Michigan, exploring the potential of arts to create positive social change and promote individuality within the prison system. Alongside my classes, I reported for MSU’s award-winning newspaper, The State News and received my first real newsroom experience. I regularly spoke with students, professors and members of the community about the topic of education on campus. I also worked with survivors of sexual assault and investigated the people and systems involved, to share their stories and expose difficult truths. Following my early graduation, I reported for The Ann Arbor News, focusing my stories on the public education system, amplifying student voices and highlighting the profound value of public education. I developed connections with various school districts in Washtenaw County to showcase students and teachers doing incredible work in and outside of the classroom. These connections, alongside my observational and interviewing skills, contributed to a multimedia piece sharing the stories of 10 passionate teachers, a look inside their classrooms and how they contribute to educating youth.
My new journey with SNN combines all my passions into one important job. I am excited to build new relationships with my school districts, administrators, teachers, students, and communities. Education exists at the center of humanity, impacting people of all ages and influencing the evolution of our world. I strive to challenge myself to investigate and write new and impactful stories that bring joy in the darkness and truth amid injustice.