Hello!

             I’ve always loved hearing other people’s stories. I grew up asking my mom and dad for their childhood stories as my bedtime stories and checking out stacks of biographies from the library, only to devour all of them in a few days. Whenever there was an awkward silence hanging above a room, I would fill the space with question after question. Maybe I’m just nosy, but listening to the way others talked about their lives and interests and achievements filled me with joy for them. 

             When I started middle school, I never thought I would write for the school newspaper in seventh grade, much less love it enough for it to become my favorite class. Writing about issues that were important to not just me but also my peers, interviewing people about their experiences, discovering new things about students that I would never have assumed at first glance—all of it was so new and exciting.

             However, in eighth grade, I fell into a journalistic rut. It was the year of quarantine and online school, and I spent the whole year locked in my room, away from other people. We couldn’t interview people, we couldn’t release print issues, and we barely released online issues. I felt like the work I was doing didn’t even matter—we couldn't center the student body, so what was the point of even writing? 

             Now, through writing for The Muse, I’ve been able to rekindle my passion for journalism. The Dreyfoos community is so diverse that no two interviews I have conducted and no two articles I have written have felt the same. This diversity inspires me to keep on telling stories from around campus and keep on searching for new stories to tell, because I know that there is always another story to cover and another angle to explore.

             Not only has being on The Muse pushed me to be a better journalist and writer, it has also pushed me to grow as a person. As a writer, I learned how to take criticism and how to work on a team, and I gained people skills as well. As an editor, I  gained confidence, learning to speak up on behalf of my staffers and trusting in my abilities to be able to provide advice for my staffers. Throughout my years on The Muse, I've met so many people, made new friends, and gained my voice through every new experience. 

             I think when I was stuck in that rut, I was so focused on asking questions and getting the answers I needed that I forgot to truly listen to the stories I was being told. But through my journey, I have learned that if I simply ask the question and let people guide me through their own stories, the articles I am able to weave with everyone's individual narratives become much more personal and compelling.