Charlie Bloomer

Words are transformative. Sandy High's newspaper transformed me. 

I joined newspaper class sophomore year not knowing what to expect. I emerged as a freelance journalist and leader for the monthly publication. From freelance reporting for the Oregonian, volunteer fact checking with the nonprofit organization Street Roots and helping with communications for Rural Organizing Project, writing has shown me a world beyond my imagination. 

I've flown from Oregon to DC and met with journalists from The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg for a full merit hands-on professional camp through the Asian American Journalists Association.  

I found an archived proclamation explicitly stating exclusionary racist policies on Mount Hood,  that will be published in The Oregonian this spring. I recently interviewed Pulitzer prize winning  New York Times journalist Tim Weiner about white Christian nationalism. I have become a Joan Didion fanatic, cold emailing professors about her journalistic essays. I have made life-long friends. 

There is so much more I could list, but most importantly, newspaper taught me that I have power. I can use my words to create and transform. As an aspiring investigative reporter/nonprofit communications worker, newspaper has shown me my future.