I have loved creative writing and literature in general from a very young age. Thus, I joined Gallimaufry, my school's creative writing magazine, in my freshman year and am now proud to call myself the head editor! I love reading my classmates' work and engaging in the creative process of writing as well as giving my community a place to express themselves. In addition to giving students a platform to publish their creative writing, Gallimaufry has hosted several "open mics" for students to read aloud their work to the upper school. 

In my research process for Toxic Legacy, I interviewed a reporter from Signal Cleveland, a nonprofit newsroom for Greater Cleveland, who served a prominent role in exposing Cleveland's lead crisis. While there, she recommended the Documenter program in which everyday citizens could be trained to report on local government proceedings and paid for their work. I signed up for a training and have since been able to attend city council meetings (covering topics on the environment, housing, criminal justice, & more) and take informed notes which Signal Cleveland provides for the public. 

https://signalcleveland.org/ https://cleveland.documenters.org/ 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pgWQRH0PCaoUd6i-Qa-JySDxWlNrqXJhc9H-jskremM/edit?usp=sharing = example of notes

Link to my presentation to faculty

Semester-long career exploration into several careers that feature various forms of writing. I interviewed a former screenwriter, an English professor/author, and a journalist to understand the different intricacies of career paths including salaries, work-life balance, and education pathways. In addition to this research, I listened to several podcasts and read various sources about these careers.

Link to essay 

I received first place in my school-wide essay competition about my school, Laurel. This essay features my most deeply held beliefs about the power of learning communities and empowering education. I chose the free response prompt, structured my essay like a letter to Sarah Lyman and thanked her for the community her school has provided me for growth in all sectors of life: emotional and academic.