About Me
Personal Narrative
For years I thought my sole passion was creative writing – bringing to life dystopian realms and conjuring enchanting, mystical tales through imagination. It acts as a capsule into your eye, casting a personal lens on each piece. That was, until I took a leap of faith, so to speak, by joining both my school's yearbook and magazine publications, The Muse and Marquee. As a creative writer used to taking inspiration from my own thoughts, emotions, and perceptions, I have always channeled my voice into every piece I write. Though creative writing was, and still is, an outlet for me to express myself creatively, I’ve since fostered a fondness for serving as a platform for other perspectives and highlighting new voices through journalistic writing.
Creative writing and journalism do have many similarities and differences, though the most prominent one I have found is that both allow for expressive storytelling. Journalism has acted as a gateway for hearing the heart of my community, whether it be locally at my school, people in my town, or national topics.
​
Interviewing had always seemed daunting to me prior to joining the publications; now, however, I find joy and comfort in the words of others. It’s a task that has allowed me to hear new perspectives I never would have thought of otherwise, that has made me emotional at times, that has made me laugh, and most of all, that has helped me to grow as a journalist and navigate this new realm of writing through the seemingly infinite wisdom and personal experiences of others. I have found that the interviewees’ words and personal accounts are what write my stories, for it is through them that a message can be conveyed to the student body.
​
One of the stories I wrote for The Muse was regarding recent student organized protests that occurred outside of my school’s campus. Students walked through the city streets, the sounds of passing cars and chatter could not muffle the sound of their protest. Even when rain came as a result of finicky Florida weather, their cause continued to shine. By working on this story, I was able to find out how my peers have become involved in the political sphere, specifically during 2020 when the world turned rouge and an infamous presidential election was soon approaching. Working on this story inspired me, especially through the interviews I conducted which allowed me to hear and feel the political passions stirring within each of the interviewees. It acted as a start to many stories and opportunities to come.
​
On The Muse and Marquee, I contributed to the humanistic vulnerability of the student body, showcasing personal stories, experiences, and emotions. During a year of closed doors and disconnection, I wanted the stories I wrote to bridge the divide so many have experiences, a divide between peers and classrooms. I love writing feature stories and capturing individuals whose stories can sometimes be overlooked in our fast-paced time.
An opportunity that arose for me last year was stepping into leadership roles on The Muse and Marquee, opening my eyes to the energy and joy I get in helping others achieve their journalistic goals. As a former coverage editor and team leader, I got to work one-on-one with my staffers, providing them with resources, words of encouragement, advice, and more. When I lead others, I see it as an opportunity for not only them to learn, but for me to learn as well. I have found inspiration in the innovation and creativity of one of my staffer’s headlines. I have gotten chills from seeing the outside of the box designs and photo placement from one of my staffer’s spreads. And I have felt connected to areas and individuals in my school that I knew little of prior to reading one of my staffer’s feature stories.
​
When I learned that I would have the opportunity to work as a co-EIC of The Muse I was beyond excited and impassioned to broaden my leadership and journalism potential. As EIC, I am managing both staffers and editors and helping in sections that I am not as comfortable in as opposed to only working with writing staffers. This acts as a gateway to become more adept and versed in skills and as a way to expand my knowledge about the inner workings of the publication. This experience has been challenging, though each challenge is met with a reward: the gift of helping others in their individual pursuit and creating a product that is a culmination of hard work and dedication for the study body to enjoy and learn from.
​
As an intern for South Florida Insider, a local online newspaper that specializes in recapping recent events, reviews, and interviews with bands, actors, athletes, and more, I gained new knowledge about the journalism world. I learned how hectic it can be trying to hunt down a press pass to get into an event, and I learned how to navigate Wordpress through creating press releases for the website.
​
When I arrived at Emerson College as a Journalism major, I sought to continue my journalistic pursuits by becoming a staff writer for the Berkeley Beacon newspaper. I write weekly stories on individuals and issues on campus and in the surrounding Boston community. I also became a morning anchor for Mornings with George Knight of WERS 88.9 'FM, a radio station. I wake up at 5 a.m. every Wednesday to arrive at the studio at 6 a.m. and create a newscast covering breaking news on the local and national level. From 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., I deliver the news each half hour. I am also a reporter for the public affairs segment You Are Here, which airs each Wednesday. Through this, I produce and edit audio packages with Adobe Audition. I report on issues impacting the greater Boston area.
​
Journalism has made me feel more connected to the communities I am surrounded by, and allows members of those communities to feel more connected to each other. It is through journalism that many feel that their experiences and raw emotion are valid in a society that moves so harsh and quick– sometimes too quick to listen to the hidden voices of individuals and the beauty each story holds.