Reporting & Writing
Below are some of the pieces I've written for my school news site. There are a variety of genres included.
Ukraine and the Double Standard
I wrote this piece after noticing Ukrainian flags outside the front entrance to our school. While the flags were placed with good intentions, they made me think about our varying reactions towards humanitarian crisis's. The piece actually led to a lot of self-reflection and meaningful conversations with classmates and teachers who found it relevant.
​
Read more HERE.
Principal Summers Returns to the Swamp
Our school's principal was out for the first quarter of the school year due to health issues. Many students were curious about the situation, so I interviewed her. Our conversation taught me just how far to push for information. I'd had no idea our principal had actually been sick for over a year, and recounting the events made both of us emotional.
​
Read more HERE.
What's Happening to Pakistan?
This is a news article about the disastrous flooding in Pakistan. I interviewed three Pakistani students, one of which who used to live there, about their thoughts about the situation. Whenever I'm covering news, I try to tie it into a school. Our diverse environment means that we have ties to stories from all around the world.
​
Read more HERE.
Mitski’s Laurel Hell: Worth the Wait?
Though I don't do it often, I really enjoy writing reviews. Here's one I did on Mitski's recent album, Laurel Hell. I broke down some of my favorite tracks and moments. Honestly, this article was just fun to do; I got to work on something different while listening to an amazing album. Now, The Gator's Eye staff writes frequent reviews!
​
Read more HERE.
Environmental Club Sheds Light on Solar Power
Our school's Environmental Club has been working tirelessly on funding their solar panel initiative. I interviewed three of the board members to learn more about their process and end goal. After an extensive conversation, it was clear how passionate these students were about their work. I had to do them justice.
​
Read more HERE.
Tragedy at the Raleigh Christmas Parade
After a girl was run over at the Raleigh Christmas Parade, I knew we had to cover the tragic event. I spent all day trying to hunt down people who were there firsthand and wrote a short piece about the incident. Eventually, I found a girl to give me a quote. The story was short but harrowing, standing as a clear example that local news can be as important as news on a national level.
​
Read more HERE.
What Really Happened with Spirit Week?
I wrote this piece about the necessity of student input for school events. Of everything I've written, this is the one that received the most student attention--people who I thought had no idea who I was were coming up to me to compliment my words. However, it also got some negative attention from admin. My feelings on this story are complex as I'm proud and stand by what I wrote, but I wish I'd gathered more sources for an even stronger argument.
​
Read more HERE.
Gun Violence in NC
Most pieces I write tie directly into my community. That's because I enjoy writing about things that impact me and my and readers. This piece was a dive into my opinions on gun violence on a more local level compared to the national way we normally discuss it. It referenced various local occurrences of gun crime and looked closer at the effect a lack of gun reform has on our state.
​
Read more HERE.
Green Level’s New Mural is a Perfect Look Into Our Lives
This article was written when school was online and still stands as one of my favorites. Interviewing the artist was the first time I'd been in the building since March 2020, and it made me feel much more hopeful about our world and school. I tried to illustrate the feeling that vibrant work gave me through my tone.
​
Read more HERE.
Free Hugs in the Swamp
"Free Hugs Guy" Ken Nwadike Jr. came to our school to share his story, and I got a chance to sit down with him for a lengthy interview. We talked about COVID, fear, and family. I wrote this piece based on his responses. I'll never forget speaking to Nwadike. In some ways, I found that interview even more engaging than his actual presentation.​
​
Read more HERE.
