I was born and raised in Niagara Falls, Canada. My father, Robert, loved watching and playing sports like hockey, football, and basketball. Being an only child, I became my dad’s sports companion. Together, we went to games, watched Superbowl’s, and cheered on some of our favorite teams. My mother wasn’t the biggest sports fan, but she loved writing. However, English wasn’t her first language. Before immigrating to Canada, she grew up in Serbia and learned some English from school and watching television.
During my last year of high school, I had the opportunity to cover our football team for a local newspaper. I had no experience writing articles or interviewing players and was terrified to start something new. But I knew I wanted to become a journalist. I loved to write, but more importantly, I loved to listen to and tell stories. So, despite my hesitations, I started writing game recaps and other pieces covering the team. My dad would help me remember positions and understand plays while my mom would proofread my stories, editing any grammar errors and mistakes.
After I graduated high school, I moved to Ottawa, a city north of Niagara Falls, to attend Carleton University. While at Carleton, I began to develop my journalism skills and learned more about the craft. But by the time I graduated, I felt that I still wanted to learn more.
When I applied to Arizona State University, I was uncertain that attending grad school was the right decision for me. But, after learning more about the program, I decided to make the move. Interviewing sources and writing their stories has always been a highlight for me. During my first semester at ASU, I coveredgames and wrote features on various topics. A few weeks after moving to Valley, I knew I made the right decision.
The future of journalism can look bleak. The lack of funding, staffing issues, and distrust from the public have hurt various media outlets. Still, I have optimism and faith in the industry. I’ve seen so much talent, passion, and dedication from my peers in my current program and other young journalists, which has given me hope for the future of journalism.
