Welcome

“You have a blog?”

    The question I never wanted to answer. Growing up in a small town where everyone seems to know everyone, starting a blog never seemed like an appropriate outlet. Everyone would know everything I thought. But it seems, at least in the majority of society today, that everyone believes they know everything anyways most of the time. So, what would having an outlet hurt? 

    Here it is. My beautiful, bold, bodacious blog. I can’t say that it will have consistent updates, but I can say that it’s a start. A start to documenting my experiences, both as a journalist and a human being. Besides, writing is supposed to be good for the soul, I think. I’m not trying to put out an image, nor do I really believe this will get much attention, if any at all. But this is it. I had a teacher my senior year of high school tell me to write everything down if I wanted to be a journalist. To at least get some practice, even if that just meant keeping a daily diary. This, you could say, will be my diary. 

    So, blog, diary, website that I impulsively purchased the domain to, this is me. A college student at Baylor University trying to get the hang of writing. When I was really little I loved to write. Well, my mom tells me I loved to write. I of course can’t remember what I loved at the age of 5 aside from maybe a burning passion for catching rollie pollies. The rollie pollie obsession eventually grew to all animals and I established that I would become a vet. Too scared to inevitably put an animal down, I thought I should be a doctor. I took biomedical science classes in high school, looked into what it took to be in a variety of positions in the medical field, and even gave my younger brother stitches. Hindsight I question why his pediatrician trusted me to do that when I mentioned I had learned how to on a banana the week before. 

    Sadly that dream also faded. I might accredit my scientific fallout to my 10th grade chemistry class, or the fact that travel seemed more calling than an additional 4 years in medical school. But at about the same time I found myself invested more than usual in my writing assignments. I loved it. Craved it. Having considered myself socially awkward for the majority of my life, writing became a way for me to express my true colors without having to look someone in the eyes. My thoughts rushed to my fingertips as they flowed onto the page like a stream. That was it, I was sold. I would become a journalist. 

    I made it to my dream university, and by that I mean the school that I found my senior year and completely, randomly yet whole-heartedly fell in love with. One month in and I can say the feeling hasn’t changed. Not only am I here for journalism, but I am also pursuing minors in Spanish and political science. I’ve always loved to learn so I suppose the array of classes at my disposal inspired me to explore new topics.

One day I will be a journalist. I try not to subscribe to labels, but there is one label that has shaped who I am. It isn’t a writer, or woman, or white. It is Christian. So when I do eventually adopt the label “journalist” I will remain Christian first. This is what drove me to attend Baylor, and the driving factor in my aspirations after I graduate. My dream would be to travel, preferably around the world. To hear people’s stories, to give them a voice, and to bring it back to a community that can help them. To always strive for truth, and despite any differences to remember that we are all made from the same Hands. 🤟

I am more than my education — and I hope that shines through in my writing — but here is a little about me. I have two dogs, whom I love. Their names are Dory and Nemo, which I picked… when I was 15. I have a younger brother who I like to give a hard time but love unconditionally and two amazing parents who support me through everything despite my tendencies to put the weight of my life on their shoulders when it gets hard. They carried it well even if at times I made it more difficult than it had to be. I grew up in Indiana and, sorry Hoosiers, quickly established that I wouldn’t live there again for the rest of my life. I love meeting new people and understanding how their minds work. I listen to music almost all the time but ask me what my favorite song is and I’ll draw a blank. I’m a morning person not a night owl, prefer mountains to beaches, and I do like pineapple on pizza. That’s it for the essential facts about my character. That’s me. And this is my blog. Welcome, I hope you learn something from what you read.