Born in May 2000, I grew up in the village of Townshend, Vermont. Education was paramount in my childhood, and I began my formal journey at Townshend Elementary School when I was 5 years old. After completing 6th grade in 2012, I moved across the town common to Leland & Gray Union Middle and High School. From 7th grade all the way to my graduation in June 2018, I learned and matured in the halls of Leland & Gray. I attribute the formation of the person I am today to the compassionate faculty and staff there.

My affinity for music began in elementary school when I learned to play the trombone in concert band. I have not since given it up, as I played in the UVM Pep Band for all four years there. I also learned how to play the guitar after high school, and experimented with songwriting; which I find is one of the most freeing expressions of creativity. It gave me a newfound appreciation for the lyrics behind great songs, as I most appreciate ballads that tell compelling stories. My favorites are the magnificent songs of Gordon Lightfoot, the prolific Canadian folk singer. 

Along the way, I developed what I now recognize as a passion for the humanities. I appreciate many forms of art, including but not limited to books, music, and movies. I've loved books for as long as I can remember, as well as listening to and making music. The pictures and fantastic narratives in books fascinated me as a child, so much so that reading became my favorite hobby in and out of school. I began reading more complex works of literature in high school, and my appreciation for great writing and storytelling grew exponentially. 

My dedication and commitment in high school allowed me to attend the University of Vermont as a Green & Gold Scholar. I enjoyed taking Advanced Placement Engish in my senior year of high school, so I chose the subject as my major. My time at UVM solidified my love of literature and allowed me to flourish as a writer. The more I read and write, the more I discover about the world and about my own capabilities. 

I imagine the majority of English majors like myself went into college unaware of the professional opportunities available to them, besides teaching of course. It wasn't until the end of my sophomore year, after taking a class called Writing the Community, that I got an idea of what career I wanted to pursue. 

I caught the bug for writing to inform and captivate after reporting about my hometown for the Writing the Community class. I didn't get to fully explore journalism until January 2022, when I became a student reporter with UVM's Community News Service. I was part of a cohort of journalism interns that reported for local newspapers struggling with a lack of coverage in their areas. I was assigned to contribute to the Williston Observer and got 14 articles published over one semester and summer session. It was an enlightening and intensely rewarding experience overall. It confirmed my interest in becoming a professional reporter. 

Links to the Community News Service website can be found on the homepage, and each of my articles links to the Williston Observer.