What is your greatest fear in life? 

I don’t mean the irrational fears of insects or snakes or heights that most people tend to have. I mean the abstract, overwhelming, even rational sense of life fears. Although I have quite a massive insect phobia, my biggest fear is not knowing and not being in control.

I’m not really sure how that fear came to be, but for as long as I can remember, it was always a terrible problem to have. 

In May 2021, the problem seemed to have worsened. I was 14 years old when I moved to WSSD, and I was absolutely terrified. I felt that I was being whisked away to this extremely tight-knit, highly academic school, where I didn’t know anyone, didn’t know where I was, and back then, didn’t even know what I was interested in. 

That is, until I decided to take Digital Photography 1. The funny thing is that being so upset over this move, I very haphazardly chose photography as my elective, so off I went into my second semester, learning how to use a DSLR camera, exploring the halls during third and fifth block, and being creative. 

There, I fell in love with using a camera. There, I discovered the unique angles and perspectives that are essential to every captured moment. The camera became my first best friend on my way to becoming a student journalist.  

In my sophomore year, an encouraging email from photography teacher and current adviser and mentor Ms. Kate Plows nudged me to take a leap of faith and try journalism. 

As one might guess, journalism was far from easy for someone as scared and awkward as I was. So, it was insanely surprising when I signed up to write a series of features for six new teachers that year. And even more surprising when I nosedived into completing my first-ever, very mid, very short (shocking to everyone who knows me now) interview after really badly writing a profile during a Saturday boot camp. 

I learned a lot coming out of my first six stories on the new teachers, but two lessons especially stood out. One was how much my anxiety of not being perfect and not being able to fully control if the outcome of the story I was chasing would completely flunk had led me to underestimate myself. The second was how much of an impact I had to share perspectives that may otherwise go unheard. The thank yous and excitement from my peers for my new teacher feature remind me even now how important being a student journalist is. 

Journalisming—a word I created to describe the journalistic work we do— has helped me step out of my comfort zone in ways unimaginable.  

If you told freshman year me that I interviewed a Pennsylvania state representative, the Swarthmore Town Council president AND vice president, central and high school administration members, and covered the Student Council elections (and interviewed every candidate) not once but twice, she would think you were absolutely bazonkers. Today, I’d say it’s maybe a little bazonkers, but absolutely worth every leap of faith and panic mode beforehand.

I know that even beyond just the many stories I’ve captured, I won’t forget the countless highlights made on staff. 

I won’t forget the numerous times I’ve been called short. 

I won’t forget how I met my incredibly kind, talented name-twin.

I won’t forget the drop-dead moment when I won PSPA’s State Champion Feature Writer. 

I won’t forget the hilarious moments when we encountered mice in the studio. 

I won’t forget the awe-inspiring opportunity of a speech with 2024 co-editor-in-chief Sasha Binder at the 2024 Keystone Media Awards, nor the crazy amount of awards we’ve won. 

I won’t forget the immense number of hours spent in the media lab for design days and fifth blocks.

I won’t forget being able to bond with and guide so many reporters of every grade. 

I won’t forget having the wonderful privilege to be EIC for two years and top-notch cheerleader for all three years. 

Even though it is the end of my time on The Panther Press, I’m taking the ending with a grain of salt. After all, the other perspective (as every story goes) is that it is really only the beginning.  

Despite not quite knowing yet what kind of journalist I see myself being ten years down the line (which is still a bit scary for me), I do know that whether I choose to become a TV news reporter or decide I want to delve into writing all about my opinion or become the next notorious David Brooks or Chris O’Connell or whomever, I’ll continue to share the perspectives that have made my journey as a journalist the beautiful mosaic of stories that it is. 

And that part—I can’t wait. 

Thank you for letting me tell so many of your stories, Haven! And especially, thank you to the team, sophomore year to now, for making my journalisming at Haven so, so incredible.