I went to college planning to write for film and television but, like many failed screenwriters before me, I naturally fell into journalism instead. While learning the ropes of reporting in the classroom, I joined my school’s chapter of Her Campus and quickly fell into what I now call my “blogger phase,” putting my thoughts and experiences online for the first time. Once I joined the Her Campus National Writer Program, I took my writing more seriously. Less than a month into writing nationally, I landed my first celebrity interview, and that was the moment I thought, this is something I want to do.

Since then, I’ve been writing stories that sit at the intersection of culture, lifestyle, and identity, with bylines in Her Campus, Essence, and more. Whether it’s an explainer, an interview, or a personal essay, I aim for my work to educate, entertain, or inform (sometimes all three). If I had to describe my writing voice in three words, I’d say it’s self-aware, engaging, and clear—something I’m constantly refining with each piece I write.

While my journalism often focuses outward, I’m learning to let my writing reflect who I am, too. Everyone I know sees me as a student, a journalist, or a creative, but through my Substack ctrl+s, I’m letting readers see me as a mom, a wife, and a bookish girly (especially when it comes to spicy romance). These pieces are a window into the parts of myself I’m comfortable sharing, a low stake way of reminding myself that storytelling can be just as personal as it is public.

If I wasn’t a writer, I’d probably be a librarian or an English teacher—anything that would let me stay close to stories. 

Maya Angelou