The Importance of Resilience
Writing and editing a community newspaper is both very rewarding and a lot of work. However, it was during one particularly slow news week that I decided to cover an organ donation rose garden rededication ceremony that I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff. 

I met a lot of amazing people at the event, including 11-year-old heart recipient Lauren Shields, but Jeff and Denise stand out even now. Jeff needed a heart transplant badly, but didn't initially have the support to be placed on a donor list. His wife had died a few years prior. This is when Denise stepped back into Jeff's life. The two former high school friends reconnected on Facebook and Denise opened her home. I kept in touch with them over the next few months hoping to hear good news, and less than five month later, though I'm sure it felt a lot longer to them, Jeff was the owner of a brand new heart. 

This was an amazing story of overcoming insurmountable life challenges with the support of an unlikely friend. It was also the first time I followed a lead for months, and was truly honored to share Jeff's story. 

The Importance of Research
As a journalist, there are moments when you think, "Wow, this is really cool! I am totally a journalist right now. I am researching and reporting on an important issue." One of those moments came when I was sitting in the library surrounded by old water reports and the following day, as I toured the treatment facility asking key questions to really understand how new wells would impact the locals.  I also love learning new things so I was totally geeking out during this assignment. This is the story that emanated from those experiences. 

The Importance of Documentation
As a reporter at The College Times I was required to write two long-form articles during my semester on staff. One became my "claim to fame" and is still a regularly repeated piece as it garnered so much interest among readers. (It was a feature on the World Series of Beer Pong. Yes, that's a thing.) However, this is a story is about the latter -- shopping addiction.

I was initially concerned about finding sources for this assignment who would go on record, but two women happily obliged. They were friendly, outgoing, ambitious, smart, and had severe shopping additions. These confessions were so intimate that once the article was released, one participant called the paper claiming she was misquoted. Obviously this was a serious allegation and my editor immediately called me in to clarify. I was shocked, but thankfully, with permission from my source, had recorded the interview. I provided this material and the matter was settled. 

This would not be the last time I was accused of a journalistic indiscretion or asked for documented proof while working on a project, but that early experience taught me the importance of organization and clear communication.

The Importance of First Impressions
I've always been a sports fan, both as a participant and a spectator. However, I didn't watch much football until I became a huge ASU fan as a student. I also knew I wanted to be a writer, but had not yet been published when I landed an internship with Devils Digest. My boss, Hod Rabino, threw me into the game and I was excited, but nervous, as my first gig was to cover a ASU football. As it turns out, sometimes it's the happy place between knowledge and innocence that leads to the best articles. After a few months I asked Hod for my best articles and my first one made the cut. 

The Importance of Departure
Growth and learning are crucial to my happiness. Each day I awake to the challenges before me and desire to go to bed each night knowing something new, and ideally something useful. I truly enjoyed my time as Editor at the East Meadow Herald, but felt stagnant after a year. I knew I could grow as a writer, but I would be covering the same events with the same residents if I stayed. So, I left and took a leap into the world of marketing. 

At the time I felt defeated as journalism was changing. However, my departure from journalism to marketing  was rewarding in ways I never could have imagined. In just one year as Communications Manager at EmPower Solar, I helped to more than doubled the company's local media appearances and ignited a social media presence. Here is one of my favorite PR story from that experience. 

The Importance of Positivity
After nearly two years at EmPower Solar, I was laid off when the company opted to allocate more funds to an expanding sales department. I was shocked. As a college educated woman who was previously unscathed by the recession, I couldn't believe I was unemployed and didn't know what next steps to take. Thankfully, I had saved some funds and used said savings to do something I've always wanted -- I took a five-week solo trip to Europe. No, I wasn't running away. I was running toward my dream of seeing the world and was fortunate to tour 9 countries and 15 cities throughout Central and Eastern Europe. I could have been devastated that I was laid off, but I found the bright side. 

The Importance of Trying Something New
When I returned from Europe, I was actively looking for jobs, but the search was slow. I started to freelance, worked part-time at a bookstore (which I loved), and was searching for my passion. What did I love more than anything else? Aside from travel, the answer was editing and reading. And so, I did something bold. I took a chance on book publishing and became a 30-year-old intern. It was a fun experience and I'm grateful to have had a peak into an industry I'm truly interested in, but I also learned that I enjoy reading because it's an escape from reality more than as a career path.

Then, something fell into my lap when I least expected, as it often does. A Facebook post seen by my sister-in-law landed me a position as freelance Digital Content Specialist at go90, a Verizon-owned video streaming app. While here, I've had the opportunity to develop a 90-day editorial calendar, take on project management roles on the programming team, perform app audits to improve the user experience, and more.

The Importance of Risk
New York is amazing! It's also expensive, my commute is so very long, and the intense winter curbs my ability to enjoy the great outdoors. New York is amazing, but it's time to leave. So, I'm off on an adventure and will be moving to Portland, Oregon, in August. I can't wait to be surrounded by nature, some great friends, and delicious craft brews. I don't yet know where my career will take me, but I know if I'm in an innovative, results-oriented, collaborative company where I can continually learn, I'll be happy. 
 

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.”
–Jawaharlal Nehru