WRITING
In my four years on The Crimson Crier newspaper staff at Sparkman High School, I have had the opportunity to write a variety of articles. Some serious. Some human interest. Some merely for entertainment. Early on I found my love for writing feature stories and giving a voice to the voiceless. Throughout each assignment I strive to truly understand the people behind the interview and relay their voice in a way that is personable and relateable.
Devastation in the Virgin Islands
After Hurricane Irma slammed the Bahamas along with Cuba, Puerto Rico and the United States' southeastern coast, my staff and I wanted to bring awareness to the places being left out of major news headlines and relief efforts. With my advisor's connections to friends in St. John, I had the opportunity to interview Steve and Liz Horner, two St. John residents who chose not to evacuate and wait the storm out in their home. Nearly 2000 miles away, I began to fathom how it would feel to lay in your bathtub with a mattress over your head as life as you knew it was washed back out to sea.
​
Read Article Here
Help for the Homeless
Throughout my work with the homeless in the Huntsville community, it became evident that donations around the Holidays are plentiful, while donations during other months are few and far between. I sat out to bring attention to the yearlong need in my community by combining my three passions: volunteering, writing and people. I devoted my Thanksgiving break to researching and involving myself in the issue by volunteering with several of these organizations and began to hear the stories behind the every struggling person who came through the door.
​
Madison County Names New Superintendent
With an extreme interest in my school system, I have become dedicated to reporting on events that occur both in my school and on the district level. When our county named a new superintendent, I was the first to feature Mr. Perkins' background, career and personality. I felt it was important for the community to know Mr. Perkins on a level deeper than his resume. I talked to people who knew him well and began to develop interview questions that truely captured her mission and outlook on education. I was beyond proud to introduce Mr. Allen Perkins to Madison County.
​
Honoring the Life of Lauren Wallace
After learning of the loss of one of our students, I was tasked with writing one of the most difficult story of my career as a student journalist. Sitting down to talk Lauren's closest friends just days after her death was an indescribable interview. Not only did I feel pressure as a classmate to produce a piece of work that shared the life of such an extraordinary friend but now I had these heartfelt accounts that told of a special life. With a heavy heart and the willingness of Lauren's friends, I wrote a story that honored Lauren and her all too short life.
​
From Unknown to Tumor
Watching the struggles of a classmate as she scheduled doctor's appointment after doctors appointment without knowing what was wrong, I knew her journey was one worth sharing. Beginning just months after her first appointment, Peyton shared every test result and diagnosis until she was told she had a brain tumor. I attached myself to this story and wanted to make my audience feel as though they too were a part of this journey. From text message updates to hour-long conversations about her thoughts going into surgery, this story with always hold a place in my heart.
World War Two Veteran Named Honorary Coach
I do not use the word "inspiration" lightly, but that is what Mr. Charles Henry is. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Henry when he was named the honorary coach of my school's varsity boy's basketball team. I first interviewed coaches and players to understand Mr. Henry's role, but it was not until I interviewed Mr. Henry himself that I saw how amazing this man was. I wrote a story about how he used his misfortunes to motivate and encourage a new generation of young men to persevere and become valued citizens in society.
​
​
Years Later Community Stands Together
April 27, 2011, is a day that Alabamians will never forget. Multiple F-5 tornadoes devastated the state and left 253 dead nationwide. Our students experienced both the loss of life and the loss of possessions as houses were leveled and we were without power for over a week. Five years later, I wanted to write a story that told of the reconstruction efforts in Madison County. I found even through the devastation there was a light at the end of the tunnel. This light being the sense of community that formed around storm victims.
​
Forgotten Importance of Giving Blood
Giving blood is such a common thing, donors often forget how their blood benefits others. During a blood drive, I ended up in a conversation with a girl that had actually received a blood transfusion. I had never imagined that I could be helping someone that walked down the same hallways as me. I took to my reporter's notebook and recorder and listened to her story. Later that day, I learned of a teacher who had also received a blood transfusion. At that point, I knew I wanted to develop a story on the forgotten difference giving blood makes.
Students Cut Man Bun to Donate to Charity
After talking to a classmate whose hair was nearly as long as mine, I became interested in why a teenage guy would enjoy being mistaken as a girl. I came to know Joseph and Scott as two guys who were taking what God gave them to make a difference. I followed their journey, helped them research sources to donate their hair, and even went to watch their long curly hair hit the floor. The opportunity to share their stories with my school was a great experience and even inspired other guys with man buns to get involved.
​
Baseball Team Takes Tradition to the Next Level
I am completely convinced that baseball players are a different breed after telling this story. Every year before the area tournament begins, our baseball team gets the same hairstyle, usually a buzz cut with a design, but this past year took it to a new level.
Weather Causes School Board to Make Difficult Decisions
In the south where the weather is considered to be bipolar, our school system oftentimes takes heat for delaying or canceling school for weather-related circumstances. I wanted to dive deep and inform the public of this process and why our school board is so careful.
Doorbell Industry Extinct Due to Cell Phones
It is very rare that I have the chance to write an opinion story due to the amount of feature writing I produce, so when I get the chance, I like to take a break from the "hard-hitting" interviews and write something of comic relief.
​