Before I started to consider myself a journalist, I was a writer. I could never finish writing something as long as novel, but I still wanted to tell stories. Writing news articles allowed me to tell stories with the added appeal of gathering quotes and perspectives from real people.
MSPA Fall High School Convention: October 25, 2018
I participated in the on-site competition for news article writing. The topic, "2018 Mississippi Senate Race," was released the evening before the convention took place, and I had about three hours to complete my research, settle on an angle, find a relevant quote, piece everything together, and edit thoroughly.
Award: First Place
​
Click the image to view the full document.
MSPA Fall High School Convention: October 29, 2019
The next year, the competition's article topic was "vaping," and it was released the day of the event rather than the night before. I still had about three hours to finish an article from scratch with a 500-word maximum. My biggest obstacle was finding a unique angle from the broad topic.
​Award: First Place
​
Click the image to view the full document.
JEA Partner Project: August 22-24, 2019
One of the sessions during the Partner Project journalism workshop was a mini press conference with my school principal. Though we didn't have time to create a complete article while we were with the JEA teachers, I created a story from my conference notes.
​
Click the image to view the full document.
Poetry
"Encompassing Tomorrow" was originally written while I was in middle school. It was submitted to the 2017 University of Mississippi ("Ole Miss") Writing Competition, where I placed first for poetry.
​
"[W]e are human" is a piece that I recited at a poetry slam at my high school during Black History Month activities.
Encompassing Tomorrow
Dream about the future,
Leave others to embrace.
The birth of innovation
Grows behind a face.
Brilliance remains hidden,
And it may not ever be exposed.
The human brain is full of wonders,
Creativity never calm or composed.
Evolution is a concept
Of growth and complexity.
Like the source of advancements,
Approached with perplexity.
Underneath the rugged hill
Or beyond the midnight sky,
Lies an inspiration
Too good to let pass by.
From vast, populous regions,
To dreary, secluded lands.
Greatness can come from many,
But mainly from those who say “I can.”
Originality is a key
In sculpting contrivance anew.
Give thanks to many.
Celebrate, despite the mere few.
Imagination is a gift,
One we all take for granted.
Only those who may use it correctly
Will have their identities planted.
we are human
in this day, time, and age
we’re all a part of the chaos - the rage
united we stand,
said the forefathers of this land
yet individuals are judged,
our declaration of free-will smudged
remember that we are the people
we are one - equal
black, white; woman, man; LGBTQ+
we are human - listen to us
move from generalization -
progress to a world realization
wars, terror, fear, oppression:
all of this unnecessary aggression
do we want our children living in this era?
our world will eventually become as fruitless as the sahara
earth is a planet, but we made it our home
why is it that so many of us still feel alone
7.6 billion pairs of feet on the same ground
we’re all looking, but love and unity haven’t been found
shout, rally, preserve your courage to continue the fight
remember those who died for us and our rights
if pain has to be felt for change, then beit pain we have endured
together, the small voices will be heard
Speech
I have written three speeches for the Voice of Democracy scholarship. This program allows students a chance to express their patriotic opinions in an audio-essay format. In 2018 and 2019, I was invited to recite my speech at the Post-level awards ceremony.​
Click the images to view the full documents.
2018: I Will Grow with My Nation
​
Award: First Place at Post Level
2019: Indivisible
​
Award: First Place at Post Level
2020: To Freedom
​
Award: Second Place at Post Level
