One of my favorite parts of journalism is learning not just about events or trends, but about people themselves -- about their passions, problems, and motivations. Features give me the chance to do just that. I've covered world-class scientists, fearless doctors, and persistent businesswomen, and enjoyed every second of it.
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*PHOTO COURTESY OF VIVIKTA RAO
Healthcare Heroes
As the COVID-19 pandemic raged on, I chose to cover students who worked in medical offices amidst the pandemic. I had initially intended to cover the impact on students whose parents worked in hospitals, but after discovering a lack of content, I pivoted to an angle more relevant to the students themselves. Throughout my interviews, and while writing the story itself, I made sure to highlight the students' motivations for working in medicine despite the pandemic. Additionally, I delved into any issues and hurdles they faced as a result of their medical work.
In All Fairness
After controversy exploded on TJ social media about special accommodations for students with learning disabilities, I decided to explore the issue for tjTODAY. I centered the article around a student who had discovered a need for special accommodations halfway through her TJ career. Additionally, I included information from the principal, the school psychologist, our special education teacher, and a student. Looking back, I could've included more information in the transitions themselves, as the article is rather quote heavy. Regardless, I am proud of the thorough reporting and research that went into this article.
*PHOTO BY ANANYA BAGAI
Pixels to People
Coming into this year, I knew that the September print issue cover story should center on our return from online school. While one option was a story that covered the way people were adapting after a year of remote learning, we sought a more interesting and unique angle. In the end, after conducting multiple interviews to find leads, we decided to feature group of six sophomores who had grown extremely tight despite meeting and communicating in a virtual environment. Rather unconventionally, I made the choice to interview them all at once. While it was slightly chaotic, a joint interview gave us a sense of how they played off of each other and what their dynamic was as a group. Had we spoken to them individually, this would not have happened.
*PHOTO COURTESY OF SHAVINI FERNANDO
This Arlington Woman is Using Her Heart Condition to Help Others Live Longer
During my time at ARLNow, I was in charge of writing business-related articles for our Startup Monday column. While most articles were on fundraising successes or product developments, I also had the opportunity to write a profile on the founder of Oxiwear. After conducting an hour-long interview with Fernando, I wrote about her efforts to overcome a life-threatening heart condition. Given that this was for a business column, I also discussed Oxiwear's recent business developments.