I always loved words. Whether they painted vivid images between margins, brought a film to life or inspire emotion through poetry — I immerse myself in them all the same.
It was natural for me to gravitate to storytelling in both my personal and professional life. Whenever I face hardship, I feel safe in words, in stories. I discovered how easily I could escape within them, and I yearned to curate my own story, my own world — one others may find solace in. I threw myself into worldbuilding, reading and writing whenever I could. I made character sheets in my eighth-grade math class and read my stories to whoever listened. No one could take my pen and paper.
Writing fiction taught me stories are not only to escape; they are powerful tools to reflect reality. This, and getting an acceptance letter to my high school newspaper, ignited a newfound passion for journalism.
Though, I had a bumpy ride on my way to The Reflector. I was filled with self-doubt about my ability as an effective storyteller. I was convinced I could not make a career out of my passion, so I abandoned the fulfillment words gave me. I originally came to college majoring in entrepreneurship; however, I was introduced to the communication department through my participation in the UIndy Speech and Debate Team my freshman year. I was frequently told I was not destined for the school of business, but it was not until I walked into my first class of COMM 120 that I realized I should have listened sooner. There, I rediscovered my love for words.
During my first semester on the paper, I decided to take a leap and apply for an editor position despite being out of practice for a year. I was chosen to be the opinion editor, and, unbeknownst to me, it would drastically change my college experience at UIndy for the better. Soon, I had immersed myself in student journalism entirely — taking photos, writing sports, news, features, investigative pieces and the occasional review. I enjoyed designing pages once I wrangled Adobe InDesign, and I fell in love with publication design overall. The Reflector ultimately gave me purpose when I was not sure where I belonged — through deadlines that pulled me out of ruts, late nights that sparked some of my proudest work and revising sentences a dozen times until they sang.
It also helped that I met some of the most wonderful people through The Reflector who I am still proud to call close friends. Everyone was a friend in the newsroom, and, even when faced with an 8-hour long production Friday, we always found time to laugh and support each other. My friends taught me just as much as any journalism classes or assignments, and I am incredibly grateful to them for constantly inspiring and pushing me to be better — as a writer, editor, leader and human being.
This was especially true when I became editor-in-chief. I am lucky enough to have held the position for two years and walk away with a keener understanding of what it means to be a good leader. Being editor-in-chief was both the most rewarding and challenging chapter of my college career. It was lots of deadlines, difficult decisions and a never-ending to-do list — but it was also where I found my stride. My leadership on The Reflector also gave me the opportunity to dig deeper into my passion, political reporting, through securing interviews with candidates and legislators, covering protests downtown or even being in the same room as some of the most prolific names in U.S. politics. It was not always easy, but I would not trade it for the world. I could not have done it without the support of my managing editor, Olivia Pastrick, who consistently inspires me to push myself through their tenacity and unwavering dedication all while making it look easy.
To my closest friends and mentors — Alli, Emma, Michael, Bre, Kassi and Olivia — thank you for your support and your friendship, especially in moments I questioned myself. Your belief in me made all the difference, and I cannot wait to watch what the future holds for all of you.
