Stories

OCTOBER 15, 2024- As my first story being a staffer on The Muse and student at Dreyfoos, "From Corporate to Creative" presented itself as an amazing opportunity to become familiarized with the school. A feature on the new guidance counselor Cristelina Milan, the feature focused on her journey coming to Dreyfoos while highlighting her goals for the future and what she hoped to bring to enrich the school experience. During the interviewing and writing process, I learned about her as a person, the staff hierarchy, positions, and the publication style of The Muse during my draft process. 

My second story of the semester, the "Ballot Breakdown" required a significant amount of research. Written and published before the November 5, 2024 election, the story functioned as a detailed guide describing the presidential, House of Representatives, Senate, and Florida supreme court and circuit court candidates and their campaigns, along with the amendments on the Florida ballot. The goal of this story was to inform voters, especially those who would be voting for the first time, of everything they would see on November 5 to ensure their preparedness when the day finally arrived. Even though it was a tedious process collecting data and information, I saw this story as a great opportunity to freshen up my knowledge of local government procedures and figures. 

DECEMBER 14, 2024- This story was a turning point for me. I took full initiative on researching, planning interviews, and reviewing past Prism coverage to create something unique. It was my first time doing that much groundwork before even stepping into the event, and it paid off. Writing this piece helped me trust my instincts and taught me the value of being prepared.

FEBRUARY 5, 2025- "A Pattern of Perseverance" is a feature story revolving around Dreyfoos student Edluckens Agusme and his clothing line. Writing stories like his is one of the main things that drove me to join The Muse. Learning about his passion and seeing firsthand the power of consistency and determination when chasing your dreams was truly a privilege. It was wonderful collaborating with him and the designer for this story to bring his artistry to the spread.

FEBRUARY 9, 2025- I didn’t expect this story to resonate so deeply with others or myself. It was my first time using Flourish elements, and seeing how they enhanced the story really built my confidence. The recognition it received made me realize that even if I doubt a piece at first, it can still have real impact. In the end, this story marked the beginning of me venturing into adding more creative touches to stories.

MARCH 15, 2025- This story holds a lot of emotional weight. I found out my cousin passed away that morning, and by that night, I was covering a live performance I had picked up just hours earlier. Writing it gave me something to focus on, and pushing through it reminded me how capable I am- even on hard days. It was also my second live story, and I turned it around incredibly fast, having written the story entirely during the performance and having the piece edited three times before the night ended. 

MARCH 15, 2025- This was one of my most research-heavy stories and the most viewed one I’ve written. It felt good to expand on a previously covered topic without repeating it. I challenged myself to find new angles and made sure every bit of research supported that effort. Writing this piece further emphasized to me how much I enjoy stories that require deeper digging.

MARCH 16, 2025- This piece helped me feel more connected to the school. As a first-year student, I hadn’t really interacted with many teachers outside of my major. Getting to speak with different department heads via venturing to the buildings and conducting interviews allowed me to learn about Dreyfoos traditions and was eye-opening. It made me feel more grounded here, and I appreciated how much it expanded my perspective.

MARCH 19, 2025- This story was written during my first ever Dreyfoos Spirit Week, and getting to write about it made the experience even better. Like my Prism story, I began my planning process including conducting interviews and pre-writing days ahead, and documented the event live, making sure to catch every detail. Because I was both participating and covering it, I was able to bring a personal sense of excitement and pride to the piece.