I love writing, it plays such a huge part in my life and it always has. I have been writing stories and poetry since I was in elementary school. Last year, I wrote, illustrated and published my own story and poetry book for all ages called, Secrets of a Healing Heart. This book has been one of my biggest accomplishments in my life so far. It not only captured my passion for the arts but it helped me get through the toughest time in my life.
I had lost my grandma my freshmen year of high school. She lived with my all of my life and she practically raised me. She was my hero, my inspiration and the start and ending to my smile. Losing her was like losing a part of my heart, that part in which I have never fully gotten back.
The wounds were still fresh my senior year of high school. And when the time came to excel for our senior projects, I took it upon myself to not only make this a project worth receiving my high school diploma for, but to make this a project that will benefit me then and in the future. Months and months laster, with no training at all in authorship, my book was finished. My heart was at rest and I could finally come to love and appreciate my passion for writing again through other's positive feedbacks.
Having someone appreciate and relate to my work is my number one goal as a writer. With out a doubt in each piece this is what I strive to do.
I have won three Creative Communication National Poetry contests, and had all three of those poems published in the Anthology: A Celebration of Young Poets.
On the Banner staff at CBU, I am currently the senior writer. Writing for this newspaper has given me so many opportunities as a journalist. I have interviewed some amazing people and covered some capturing stories.
I started working for the banner last summer, August 2007. I was originally on the Angelos Yearbook and wrote for the Banner, when needed. The third week of working for the newspaper, I was assigned an off camera broadcasting interview with Pastor Rick Warren, Who just made the cover of Time magazine and hosted the Civil Presidential Forum in August.
I was traumatized! Here I am, this little freshmen girl wearing this red L.A.M.B. sweater with my press pass hung around my neck, my reading glasses on and my notebook full of questions faithfully at my side, while awaiting for this celebrity to enter the room full of cameras and professionals.
Just as I was going over the questions I was about to ask in my head for the 100th time, in walks in Pastor Rick Warren with his entourage and a huge smile on his face. He came right up to me, shook my hand and introduced himself. My lip was quivering. After I introduced my self, we began talking about where I was from and what church I went to. And how I lived a few cities away from his church and how he started a youth branch at my city's High School. We were laughing and I immediately became very comfortable with the situation. It was really neat being able to see this public icon in a personable light.
We began our interview and he answered everyone of my questions with "text book" answers. After the interview was over he gave me a hug and told me that I had done a very good job. I was on cloud nine and was still smiling when I went to sleep that night. I was truly a journalist.
Covering Rick Warren as my first feature article ever, launched me into the world of journalism in which I have come to love so much.
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