As a graduating senior, my past few years at Ohio University have been beautifully prosperous. I've learned how to be a better communicator, a better professional and a stronger journalist.
As a Post writer and photographer for over two years, I've developed many skills I plan to carry with me after graduation. I've worked with some of the most talented journalists and had a plethora of opportunities that I would not have had before joining the publication during my freshman year. I learned how to work outside my comfort zone, listen to people's experiences and work as a team in everyday situations.
This year, I was granted the opportunity to become a senior writer — a position I enjoy fulfilling. As a senior writer, my job is to write longer, more in-depth stories about topics of my choosing with relevance to Southeast Ohio and Appalachia. I've written stories pertaining to environmentalism and human interest and have voiced my opinions in numerous columns ranging from minority rights to mental health struggles.
I work with multiple staff members at The Post to ensure that my stories are crafted in a way that highlights writing, multimedia and powerful aspects of community-centered journalism.
I'm a strong proponent of fueling your passion and as a journalist, I use my passion within my writing. I enjoy covering aspects of humanity and the intersectionalities that all make us who we are. Each of us has our own identities, stories and backgrounds that, when combined, make us human.
I'm not only a journalist but also a person of color. Each time I begin writing a story, I reflect on the trailblazers who came before me. I always try to remember that I have power in my words and in my writing, much like my mentor Clarence Page had when he was in my shoes studying journalism here at OU.
The power of journalism blossoms when stories are published that bring different social, political or socioeconomic groups together in unison and harmony. As journalists, it's important to consider the ways in which your words can affect other people or situations. Journalism can bring us together or divide us and I'm hoping that my stories can bring people together.
In this edition of The Post, I explored environmentalism and, specifically, the uptick of foragingamong younger generations who have been environmentally conscious. As an avid environmentalist myself, writing that story was very important to me and I learned so much about local flora that grows during different seasons in the region.
I could not have completed that story without the wonderful help from the following: Hannah Campbell, our Projects Editor, Alex Imwalle, our Investigative Editor, Cole Patterson, our Multimedia Editor and Anastasia Carter, our Digital Director.
To whatever comes next, I will be ready.
