At the start of my time at Westside High School, I knew little to nothing about Journalism. I hadn’t taken a prerequisite course in middle school, nor was I enrolled in Westside's introductory class, Mass Communications. When I joined Yearbook, I was suddenly working alongside upperclassmen who, to me, seemed like mini Anderson Coopers and Lester Holts. After countless frantic late-night texts asking for advice before deadlines and hours spent observing how the system worked, I gradually grew confident in my journalistic abilities. That confidence turned into passion, and that passion has shaped me into the journalist I am today. Now, I am proud to serve as Editor-in-Chief and Design Editor of The Shield Yearbook for my second year, as well as Online Design & Graphics Editor and Social Media Manager for Westside Wired. I oversee both The Shield and Wired Instagram accounts, managing weekly posts about school events, announcements, and engaging content. Additionally, I photograph many major school events, which has led to outside commission opportunities. As our department has faced setbacks, I’ve worked to rebuild our program and strengthen the community we strive to create. I put in hours of work each week both producing my own work and helping other staff learn and grow.
