When I was 5 years old, my family moved to a new city where I started kindergarten at Ursuline Academy of New Orleans, the first all-girls Catholic school in the U.S. located on State Street. Just 4 miles from the French Quarter, jazz music, street performers and tourists roamed the streets flooded and destroyed by Hurricane Katrina four years before. I was surrounded by a diverse community of classmates from a wide range of cultural, racial and socioeconomic backgrounds--each bringing their own stories and traditions to our shared learning experience.

As I grew older, I became curious about current events because we discussed them in social studies class. I was interested in the world around me, so I would watch the 10 p.m. news with my mom. She supported my concern for humanity, and she constantly answered my questions. I would rather listen to people speak about their experiences than hear myself talk--and if I can write about what people say, that is even better.

Growing up in New Orleans has fostered my appreciation and curiosity for the diverse human experience. As a journalist, I am dedicated to understanding and sharing people's stories. When I conduct interviews, I am sensitive to people’s needs, concerns and comfort. With a hands-on opportunity, I am eager to apply my passion for journalism and am determined to improve my current skills and learn new ones.

Today, I am a senior at the University of Arkansas, majoring in journalism and political science with a minor in Spanish. After I graduate with my bachelor's degree in May 2026, I will earn my master's in journalism the following May.

Best Lifestyles Reporter - Fall 2023-Spring 2024

Issued by The Arkansas Traveler - April 2024

Omni Bill Moyers Investigative Reporting and Editors Travel Fund

Issued by the School of Journalism and Strategic Media at the University of Arkansas - April 2025