Why I Chose to Chase Stories, From Paper to Pixel

Ever since I was little, I've just loved to write. There's something almost magical about taking what's in your head – thoughts, feelings, experiences – and turning them into words that connect with other people. But for me, wanting to work in journalism, whether it's in a newspaper you can hold or something you read online, goes deeper than just liking to write. It's really about wanting to give a voice to the people who have stories to tell, and to make sure those stories stick around.

You know that feeling you get when you can actually help someone be heard? It's like… nothing else. It's not just about spitting out facts; it's about trying to capture who someone really is, what they've gone through – the good stuff, the tough stuff, how they see the world.

And when those stories get out there, whether it's in a newspaper you can hold onto or living online, it feels important. It's like you're marking a moment in time. You're not just telling folks what happened; you're saying, "Hey, this is real. These are the people it happened to. This is why it matters." These stories become like little pieces of our shared history, saved in ink or on a screen so we can all remember.

The idea that something big, something that touched people's lives or changed things, could just disappear over time always bothered me. All those amazing moments, the hard times, the happy ones, even the unfair stuff – that's what makes us who we are as a community. And I wanted to be someone who could grab those moments and make sure they weren't forgotten.

So, yeah, I chose journalism – both the kind you can touch and the kind you see on a screen – because it gives me this incredible chance to be like a record-keeper for our time. I get to write about the lives we live and the things that happen around us, to keep those stories safe so we don't lose track of what we've been through. Every article, every piece I write, it's like saying, "This happened. These people were here. And this is why it matters." For me, using words to make sure those moments stick around? That's pretty much the best thing I can imagine doing.