The first thing you should know about me is that I love being a journalist. And above all else, I love it for the amazing opportunities and responsibilities it has given me in my young journalism career.

The opportunity to share the stories of college athletes, local parks and recreation officials or one of Iowa State’s most passionate tailgaters is the most rewarding part of my job. I love searching for stories, finding new angles to make my audience learn something new and helping my readers understand information in a digestible format.

I am from Belvidere, IL, the “City of Murals” as we call it, where I learned the importance of giving back to your community and building trust with those around you.

And that is why I fell in love with journalism.

Journalism is my way of giving back to the community, by sharing valuable information and telling stories that allow people to connect with athletes, for instance, who seem like untouchable figures to some. But in my eyes, athletes have some of the best stories to tell because at the end of the day, they are humans with unique stories and interests just like the rest of us.

As I found my new home in Ames, at Iowa State University, I have been able to grow as a person and journalist. Working at the Iowa State Daily over the last three years has given me a platform to cover high profile sporting events and has shown me how much fun you can have being a journalist. From working on the Iowa State football and basketball beat for the last two years, traveling to Orlando, Florida, to cover the 2019 Camping World Bowl and meeting face-to-face with the crew of College GameDay, these examples and many more have strengthened my love for journalism.

For me, it’s a passion.