![](https://media.journoportfolio.com/users/366149/images/profiles/f41d35bc-17eb-444a-8cdf-204cdc6819a2.jpg)
About me
I am a devoted journalism student at Middle Tennessee State University that will be graduating in May 2024. Because I am a first generation high school graudate and college student, my hard work ethic has only strengthened over the years. Throughout my college career, I have worked about 25 hours a week at my part-time job, while maintaining the Dean's List and devoting all of my heart and soul into my journalistic endeavors in and outside of student media. During my time at MTSU I have recieved two scholarships from the School of Journalism and Strategic Media as well as an induction into the Society of Professional Journalists. I thrive in team-oriented, fast-paced enviornments. Though I have grown partial to feature writing and entertainment journalism, news coverage brings me joy as well.
To share a little bit more about my personality and life, I am a Nashville native that enjoys music, reading, watching movies, and making people laugh. I have two tabby cats, Gandalf and Loki, that I adore.
My journalism story and experience
My journalism career began when I was a freshman at Mount Juliet High School. Though I wanted to join the yearbook club, the spots filled up quickly and I got placed with the school newspaper, the MJ Golden Ray. Having grown up writing short stories, fanfiction, poems, and the like, I immediately found a passion for writing articles. After a semester, I got promoted to an editor role where I would write, train new writers, and design the website and layout for monthly print editions. During my senior year I became the Director of Public Relations after we rebranded to the Golden Bear Gazette - a name that I pitched to the teacher.
Despite starting college during the first year of the pandemic, I still found a way to get involved with the editorially independent school newspaper MTSU Sidelines. I began as a news writer in January 2021 where I would pitch and write one to three stories a week, take photos, and attend weekly meetings.
I climbed the ladder when the Assistant Lifestyles Editor position opened up for Fall 2022. During that semester I assigned and wrote stories, took photos, updated our Google Sheets budget, published stories on our WordPress site, assisted during weekly meetings, and served as a liaison between staff and the editorial board.
Fall 2022, I also started my position as a freelance writer and photographer for the Lebanon Democrat. There, I pick up last minute event coverage stories and photo galleries.
Since Spring 2023 I have been the Lifestyles Editor. I completely rennovated the section in my first semester of serving the role. I doubled the content numbers from the semester prior in just half a semester, launched two successful and consistent columns, assigned stories, corresponded with staff and the editorial board daily, updated our Google Sheets budget, oversaw recruitment, created merchandise and graphics through Canva, lead weekly newsroom meetings, and collaborated with an editorial board while taking 18 credit hours and working 25 hours a week.
In addition to my duties during Spring 2023, Fall 2023 I coordinated our social media team, recruited more photographers so that nearly each article recieved a photo gallery, and began hosting weekly one-on-one editing sessions.
I began writing three to six articles a month for the Murfreesboro Pulse in August 2023. The Murfreesboro Pulse is a monthly newspaper that covers mostly lifestyle topics in the community. Nearly every edition I write pre-event coverage pieces for live music and nonprofit fundraisers. Outside of that, I write about local business news, Murfreesboro development, art, culture, and pieces that answer community questions.
I'm looking forward to my Spring 2024 semester with Sidelines. Lifestyles will be starting a podcast, a monthly zine, and will be contributing to the new Sidelines newsletter.