I have always known what I wanted to be when I grew up. I know, a cringe cliché, but as I reflect upon my life, I come to realize that my answer to people’s questions of what I wanted to be when I grew up or what I wanted to do in life never wandered or changed, but that it consistently stayed the same from the time I was eleven-years-old to now at twenty-four years old.
 
Amongst the numerous looks of concern and the always-expected mention that journalism is dying, my pursuit of a career in journalism has never ceased. The only path I have ever known and loved was being a storyteller, and the only career I have ever wanted was to be a writer, in whatever shape or form that may take.
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When given the opportunity, I tell people my love for writing and reporting stems from a place deeply rooted within me. One with origins tangled in a very complicated place, but simultaneously a very simple one. A place that was only ever processed or understood through my own words. A place that was unfortunately plagued by a young girl’s struggle with depression, an eating disorder, and social anxiety, but one that was able to find solace in the feelings and emotions she would often scribble down in her notebook. Writing was always there for me when all else seemed to fail. Through trying times and a boatload of self-reflection, I came to terms with myself as to why I strive for a career in journalism, as I want nothing more than to tell other people’s stories, regardless of their difficulty or complexity. I find it my mission to give a platform to those who may struggle or aren’t granted the chance to find their voice, all through the power of my own words, the same thing that writing granted me.
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I think of the young and eager girl I was growing up, to remind myself how far she’s come. With tremendous growth in her personality and confidence, she has soared in her work as a journalist. All she did was dream of a life where all she needed was a pen and a piece of paper, as she wanted nothing more than to experience different phases of life while being able to write. I find myself forever grateful for the young girl I once was, and I hold her in every piece of writing I put forth. She serves as a testament that writing has the power to not only change the lives of the people in your stories but can also subsequently change yours.