Journalism means so much more to me than putting words on a page. I deeply believe that the best writing comes from passion and sensitivity. I strive to get to know every individual to who I speak and to share their personal stories with whoever wants to listen.

My path to journalism originates with my twin brother, Edward. To this day, my brother is one of the most important people in my life, and we have a special bond that I believe is irreplaceable. From a young age, my brother has had a speech impediment that hindered his ability to communicate effectively. This meant that often, I would be communicating for both myself and Edward. While this mainly included speaking, it also allowed me to better understand nonverbal cues and expressions. I gained a passion here for being able to support and communicate for someone who had difficulty doing so, and this has carried on throughout my life. When I look at journalism, I see the opportunity to use my voice to tell the stories of others. I understand that it is a privilege to get to understand and share the lives of others, and I do so with interest and compassion.

At the end of my college career, I decided that I wanted to pursue a masters degree. An afternoon spent cleaning out the attic with my dad had led to a discovery of an old love of mine — fiction writing. Short stories from my elementary school days sent waves of warmth and joy flowing through me, and it felt like I finally had this AHA! moment. I had lost my passion for writing, and I needed to reclaim my love for it. At the time, I didn’t know what that meant but I knew that I needed to do something about it. Hence, Emerson. Today, I love writing more than ever. In every way, shape, or form.

An overarching goal of mine would be to share my art with the world. The art of storytelling is one that can only be appreciated when it is shared among people. I want my work to be passed between the hands of friends and family, and I want readers to be able to deeply connect with the characters and feel their emotions. My hope is that the readers will be able to see themselves in the characters that I am writing. In regards to my writing style, I can be very introspective and do not shy away from writing about difficult topics. I find that the best way to have difficult conversations starts with art, and I hope to be an author that inspires someone to take the step that they have been afraid to take.