My Published Stories
THE NICO-TEENS
Article originally published in Spark Issue #186 March 2019
This was my first time writing an in-depth story and I was captivated by the conversations with experts and the impactful content. I had seen my peers juuling and vaping in the bathrooms and in class. I knew that there was more information out there and that I had the capability to share it with my peers who were risking their health on a daily basis. This in-depth won the NSPA 2019 National News Story of the Year and the NSPA 2019 Brasler Prize.
SOLD
Article originally published in Spark Issue #190 December 2019
I was sitting in church drinking my tea, waiting for service to begin and a video began to play. On the screen was an advertisement for a summer mission trip to India supporting the fight against human trafficking. I immediately knew I needed to learn more. This in-depth was the hardest piece I have ever written. The topic was both extremely serious and emotionally taxing. During this I learned a lot about myself, how to approach writing on such a sensitive topic and my ability to work with others. I started this project as a solo writer, but as the story progressed it became an entire package so more topics could be covered. I then shared my research with a select group of writers, mentoring them as they created sidebars and infographics. As the main writer it was my job to coordinate everyone and make sure that we were all on the same page. This in-depth was the 2020 Quill & Scroll Sweepstakes Winner for In-Depth Individual Reporting.
A STUDY IN SLEEP
Article originally published in Spark Issue #185 January 2019
Sleep deprivation is a common problem among teens and on top of that is the caffeine addiction that is borne from high schoolers drinking highly caffeinated drinks to stay awake. While at a color guard practice I listened as one of my teammates complained about only getting three hours of sleep. I immediately asked her more in-depth questions and discovered that she suffered from insomnia. I asked her if she would be willing to be the face for a story I was writing on sleep deprivation. Surprisingly, she said yes. I then dove into research and had hour long conversations with experts in the field of sleep. This article received a Superior at OSMA State Convention 2019.
SPREAD YOUR WINGS
Article originally published in Spark Issue #182 May 2018
This was the first story I wrote and photographed as a first year journalism student. To get the story I visited the local conservatory that was hosting the butterfly show and walked up to random strangers to get their opinion on the exhibit. This story required a lot of patience, as I got turned down several times for interviews. Taking photos of butterflies was also a challenge as you have to wait until just the right moment when they open their wings. This story also inspired me to write my next story. While at the conservatory I noticed large knitted butterflies decorating the outdoor displays which led to my yarn bombing article.
