Going into high school, I didn’t have a clear answer to the question everyone kept asking: “What do you want to be?”Broadcast Journalism was the last thing I expected to write as my intended major on college applications. What I didn’t know then was that journalism would become the place where my creativity, love for sports, and voice came together.
Journalism entered my life because someone recognized it as a spark in me before I fully recognized it in myself. During a stand-up presentation in my sophomore English class, my teacher—who is also the advisor for my school’s media club program—stopped me after class.
"That was an amazing presentation, and I am looking for more students to anchor for the West Watch News. I would love for you to be one of them," he said.
My eyes widened, and I shook my head. "I’m so sorry, Mr. Jones, but I don’t think that’s for me."
"Why not?" he asked.
"I’ve never been on camera before," I said. "And I don’t really know if I want my voice broadcasted for the whole school to hear."
He paused for a moment before saying, "Journalism opens a lot of doors. It did that for me, and I tell my students that all the time. I think it could do the same for you, but only if you are willing to take the chance."
I didn’t answer right away. However, for the next week, that conversation stayed with me. Eventually, I went back to him and said, "Okay. I’ll try it, but only one time."
That moment changed everything. The first time I reported on camera, I was nervous, but I also felt an immediate sense of purpose, like an internal lightbulb started beaming, as each word I spoke crossed the teleprompter. After receiving accolades on my first news coverage, I realized journalism was where my voice belonged, and sure enough, that one time turned into dozens more.
Although my interest in journalism peaked after reporting for West Watch News, I remember the pivotal experience that solidified my goals in pursuing journalism as a career. During my sophomore year, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the New England Scholastic Press Association (NESPA) Journalism Conference at Boston University. Hearing that year’s keynote speaker, A. Sherrod Blakely—an NBA writer and analyst specializing in sports journalism—was transformative. He spoke about storytelling beyond the statistics and the responsibility that comes with covering sports in both real time and recap. Growing up around sports, I have always loved watching and analyzing the game, but up until that conference, I never knew that I could make a career out of that love. I left that conference knowing I didn’t just love sports, I wanted to tell their stories for a living.
Sports reporting has become one of my greatest passions and has changed how I watch games. When I watch NFL games now, I pay attention to the journalists on the sidelines and at the desk as much as the action on the field. Reporters like Erin Andrews, Tracy Wolfson, Melanie Collins, and especially Maria Taylor have influenced how I understand the role of a broadcaster. Seeing Maria Taylor succeed as a Black woman in sports media—a space where representation has not always been guaranteed—has been especially inspiring. Watching these women cover the biggest stages in sports, including the Super Bowl, the event that I hope to cover one day, motivates me to picture myself in that role.
While that vision motivates me, my high school journalism journey has not always been easy or immediate, and it has come with challenges that have pushed me to grow. One of the most challenging experiences was this year, when I was assigned to write an editorial on a highly charged national news event: the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk at a university event in Utah. The story was circulating online, in school, and around the country, and misinformation about the event was everywhere. Covering a story that carried strong political weight required me to separate my personal beliefs from my responsibility as a journalist. I had to approach the story with fairness, present multiple perspectives, and keep my stand-ups grounded in fact rather than opinion. Learning how to stay impartial with a very emotionally charged topic pushed me outside my comfort zone, but it ultimately strengthened my respect for journalism as a profession rooted in ethics like balance, responsibility, and truth.
Throughout the last three years of high school, journalism has pushed me beyond my comfort zone in ways I never expected. From finding my confidence on camera to leading broadcast segments with a newsroom full of my peers, I’ve learned that student journalism carries a real responsibility—one that translates to the real world. Every script I write, every segment I edit, and every story I report on has taught me that journalism is not just about being heard, but about being factual, prepared, and intentional with the platform you have been given.
I plan to major in Broadcast Journalism in college with the goal of working in sports broadcasting and media, specifically covering for the NFL one day. Whether I am reporting from the sidelines, breaking down a game in real time, or eventually standing on the field at a Super Bowl as a sideline reporter, I want to bring the same discipline, balance, and integrity that I learned through West Watch into every space I enter.
Being awarded Rhode Island High School Journalist of the Year and becoming a member of the All-New England Staff, reminded me of what Mr. Jones said that day after class, that journalism can open doors. That one conversation led me here, and I’m proud of the broadcaster and journalist I’ve become, still figuring out my voice, taking on challenges, and learning every day how far this door can take me.