Writing
This collection showcases my strongest work from my time on staff from the 2023 yearbook What We Were and the 2024 yearbook Timeless.
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2023: What We Were
Swinging Into the Season
This was the first story I ever wrote for Ceniad, and I remember feeling incredibly nervous. My copy editor at the time guided me through the process, helping me start but ultimately pushing me to take the lead. Covering the varsity girls’ golf team, made up entirely of underclassmen, was a unique angle, but this story showed me how a simple sports piece could go beyond scores and stats. Instead, it was about the people, their experiences, and the emotions behind the game. It was this experience that made me realize the power of journalism in capturing untold stories.
Playing Into the Past
Along with “Cracking the Code” I wrote this story for our second deadline, which was my first time taking on two stories for a deadline. Marching Band holds a special place in our school’s culture, and I wanted to capture the excitement surrounding the return of a tradition lost during COVID. Interviewing both seniors experiencing this for the first time and freshmen who remembered watching the band play when they were younger made the story feel both nostalgic and fresh. This piece not only boosted our coverage of band but also highlighted the joy of reviving a beloved tradition.
Wrestling with Stereotypes
This story was so uplifting. It was so much fun getting to interview the three girls on the wrestling team, and seeing the change they were driving within our school, especially in a male-dominated sport. As I wrote this, I couldn’t help but admire their dedication to not only their sport but also to changing the narrative around women in spaces like wrestling.
Cracking the Code
This story about the Robotics Club highlights its impressive growth from just two members during COVID to a thriving group in 2023. It was my second yearbook story and marked a turning point where I began to feel more comfortable with writing for the yearbook. This piece stands out because it captures a story of growth, showcasing how the club's members overcame challenges and worked together to build a strong team. It’s special to me because it demonstrates how digging deeper can reveal meaningful stories that often go unnoticed.
Side by Side, Hand in Hand
This story was different from anything I had written before. Growing up in East Lansing, MSU has always been a familiar part of my life, and the shooting that occurred in February 2023 affected me on a personal level. Covering the memorial vigil felt daunting. It was my first story that didn’t have a “happy ending” and it pushed me to dig deeper into how communities come together in the face of tragedy. Writing this story not only gave me a new perspective on the power of collective healing but also made me realize the responsibility of covering such sensitive topics.
Senior Profiles
Writing four senior profiles for the portrait pages about students who hadn’t been covered much in the previous yearbook felt like an opportunity to dive deep into lives I never would’ve otherwise known. As I wrote these profiles, I found myself reflecting on my own approach to storytelling. I used to believe that the most interesting stories were the loudest ones, the ones that were obvious. But these profiles taught me that the quieter, more hidden narratives were often the most impactful. Writing these stories reminded me of the importance of slowing down and paying attention to the deeper layers of people’s lives.
The Time I... - Negative
“The Time I…” spreads are sprinkled throughout the Timeless book, capturing moments that shape our school and student body. For this spread, I chose to highlight the often-overlooked struggles of high school rather than just the positives. High school isn’t a perfectly scripted movie. It’s filled with both highs and lows. I wanted to ensure that our coverage reflected a more authentic experience, giving students a space to see their challenges acknowledged. By showcasing the unfiltered side of high school, this spread adds honesty to our storytelling.
Sleepless
Sports are a big part of our school, and coverage often highlights the positives, such as winning district titles, beating rivals, and strong team chemistry. However, this story took a different angle, focusing on how the varsity girls' volleyball team was required to support younger teams and was impacting them both physically and academically. Players had different perspectives, and I made sure to capture both sides: those who saw it as a burden and those who valued team support.
Phoneless
For the 2023-2024 school year, administration implemented a new policy that prohibited phone use during classes. Initially, I thought the topic was too boring to write about, as it seemed like just another rule. However, one day during lunch, after hearing my friend explain how the phone policy wasn’t just “annoying” but actually had an impact on her academics, I realized there was more to the story. This led me to shift my angle. Instead of focusing on the typical complaints, I decided to explore how the phone ban affected students mentally, socially, and academically.
Road to Redemption
Going into this story, I had no idea what to expect from my interviews. I was interviewing most of the boys' basketball team, hoping to find the right angle, but I didn’t know where the story would take me. It was interesting hearing how each player viewed the season, not just as a series of games but as a testament to their teamwork and determination. Instead of just reporting on their undefeated record, I realized the real story was about their chemistry and collective ambition. Writing this story showed me the importance of letting the interviews guide the story rather than sticking to a pre-planned angle.
2024: Timeless