My Story

Me in my reporting days.

I knew I wanted to become a writer when I was working for my hometown newspaper during high school. I covered our girls basketball team. What made it so exciting were the stories that unfolded – the little tales of woe or joy in each game. A player who struggles the entire night hits the winning shot. Or, the team that fights to make a comeback only to lose in the last second on a shot that falls just a bit short.

I think that storytelling, in fiction or nonfiction, can subtly be powerful. It’s just a small way to relate someone’s experience. Hopefully, readers can take away something that can alter their lives, make them a better person, or see someone else in a more understanding light.

Since high school, I’ve built my career through storytelling. I’ve written for newspapers and magazines, and, as the journalism industry has evolved, started telling multimedia stories online. I still write, but mostly now, I help facilitate storytelling. I’m a student media advisor, and I teach journalism at a collegiate level. I’ve rededicated myself to a profession I’ve been around most of my life, and I hope I can help shape storytelling for future generations.