The link above includes every article I wrote during my time at MSU as a columnist for their student newspaper, the Standard. I wrote articles focused on social justice, pop culture, and identity. I also wrote some fun pieces like the best places to stargaze in Southwest Missouri. The Standard taught me a lot about combining research and personal essay into my writing, and it's something I still gravitate to today when I write. I think journalism is built on its genre-bending nature and trust in audience. It is a careful craft; I want to give people a voice in my writing, while also constructing a narrative that is truthful. This is hard because truth can feel so singular and universal at the same time. Being a journalist helped me see that a story does not have to cover all sides and bring every truth to the light. A story can just uncover something new - a new truth that speaks to people, even if it's not all people. I am lucky to have experience in this type of writing. I am well versed in AP style, I know how to come up with unique interview questions, and I have more confidence in blending creativity and research in my writing. While some of the pieces I wrote during college did not age as gracefully as I hoped, I'm still proud of my writing and its impact during that specific moment.