Journalism and broadcasting have completely changed my life. I've now discovered my passion and something that I want to fully dedicate myself to. I would never have guessed this would be my path when my counselor placed me in Tribe TV at the beginning of my junior year, just to fill an empty spot in my schedule.

I was born in Japan and raised there until seventh grade. In October 2020, my family moved to Atlanta because of my American stepfather.  Adjusting to a new lifestyle in the US was challenging, especially since it was during the pandemic. I struggled with English and felt isolated because I had to attend school online, which offered me no language support. Even after transferring to Biloxi High School, I found it hard to fit in. But suddenly, a turning point arrived. In my junior year, my counselor unexpectedly recommended Tribe TV to fill a gap in my schedule. I agreed, not realizing that decision would change my life.

I had always been interested in journalism, but I had little to no knowledge about broadcasting. Tribe TV introduced me to filming, editing, and interviewing, and I quickly fell in love with those activities. I was fascinated by how I could evolve a story through creative choices, and I loved meeting new people by interacting with athletes, clubs, and teachers. Capturing their experiences and sharing their voices with our videos became my passion.

However, Tribe TV had inherited a poor reputation; our production was inconsistent, and many teachers refused to play our broadcasts.  In my first year on Tribe TV, some even told me it wasn't worth my time at all. I felt obligated to change this organization and its reputation.  Midway through my junior year, I became editor-in-chief and worked tirelessly alongside a few dedicated peers to improve our content. We spent late nights editing, tackling technical challenges, and pushing for higher production standards. Slowly but surely we improved, and our efforts paid off. People started to take notice.

By my senior year,  Tribe TV as well as all of its members had transformed. With our newly motivated team, we reached a major milestone - submitting our work to a competition (the Fall MSPA Best of Show) for the first time. Although they were minor awards, we earned two wins and became finalists in two other categories. This felt like a breakthrough. When we returned, teachers and students celebrated our success, a moment that made all the hard work feel worth it.

Journalism has given me a new direction in life. It gave me a sense of purpose, pulled me out of loneliness, and helped me find a career I’m truly excited to pursue. More than that, I met some wonderful teammates who made my journey even more meaningful. I'm so grateful to everyone who has supported me, especially my teammates; my Tribe TV teacher, Mrs. Carson; and my parents. My experiences with Tribe TV mean so much to me, and I can't wait to keep learning and growing as a journalist.