Receiving information and learning to make our own judgments about that information is what both unites us and makes us unique. Knowing which information to trust as truth is crucial to shaping our lives and our society.

This is why I decided to become a journalist. People need trustworthy news that challenges them to engage with others. Through my own research and practice, I’ve discovered solutions journalism is an effective approach to empower and encourage people through news stories.

Solutions journalism is driven by the passionate pursuit of telling the whole story. It presents social problems as well as their solutions by analyzing responses to events and how they succeed or fail.

I am in my third year of pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism at Grace College. As editor of the student newspaper “The Sounding Board” and as a freelance journalist, I cover events, organizations and people impacting local communities. My articles have been featured on Input Fort Wayne, Grace College’s website, and in print or online at The Sounding Board and The Journal Gazette.

Working for these publications has grown my enthusiasm for telling people’s stories accurately and impactfully. The strengths I possess—discipline, responsibility, determination, time management, curiosity and self-motivation—are the skills that are needed to be a successful journalist. I am dedicated to using my skills as a communicator to help shape a better, more hopeful, truthful and informed world. 

I engage in these endeavors while being a full-time student and achieving Dean’s List every semester thus far. When I’m not writing I can be found leading kid’s worship at my church,  performing in a show or running in the woods.