Personal Statement

As a journalist, I see myself first and foremost as a truth-teller. Truth and honesty are values we learn as children. But for journalists, these are more than aspirational goals; they lie at the core of what we do. We journalists must practice fidelity to truth. 

As a news reporter, I start with that duty. My instinct is to find significance in human stories that others would dismiss, because I believe in finding something extraordinary in the ordinary. I find people of interest in my school's Instagram community. I listen to the world around me, especially in the most mundane places, like English class or in our hallways. And then I dig deep. 

With every interview I conduct, every protest I photograph, and even every athletic event I cover, my duty to the truth is foremost in my mind. Whether I'm covering the most fiery political controversies or the founding of a new club, I try to find the unexpected angles and distinctive perspectives that can shed as much light as possible on the news.

This commitment to the honor of the craft makes me more than enthusiastic to pass on those skills and values to my staff of journalists. In my editorial role on my school's newspaper, the Union Street Journal, I do just that. Even as I work on developing my own journalistic skills, I try to teach. An editor's primary goal should not be to critique or tear apart a writer's work. We must provide opportunities to learn. 

I believe in giving budding students the chance to work creatively and collaboratively, so we work together on story ideas, interviewing, and writing. As I do so, I push our staff to find regional, national, or even global connections to the stories that mean the most to our school, because those connections help readers understand that what happens in our school and among our students matters. Shedding as much light as possible on the truth of those stories -- and helping my fellow students figure out how to do the same -- supports my commitment to the truth.

I could do this to score points on a college application or win accolades -- but I do it because I find it thrilling. Journalism is my passion and it is my life.