News
Click on the title or photo to access the article
Like many Iowans, I personally know students from Perry High School who have faced one of my generation's most harrowing realities: school shootings. In the wake of the Perry High School shooting, I attended a rally at the state capitol where hundreds of students had gathered against gun violence. Deeply moved by the strong emotions of my young generation, I set out to write my first political piece. I reached out to then-Iowa Senator Brad Zaun (R) and his successor, Matt Blake (D), synthesizing their views on gun violence alongside quotes from Iowa legislators featured in local news. To explore the contrast between adult and youth voices in politics, I interviewed the co-executive director of March for Our Lives Iowa and a student member of the Iowa Youth Congress. Turning to schools, I spoke with Kaitlyn Delp-Leber, Perry High School's senior class president, to amplify her community's voice. Shifting to my own school, I interviewed an alumna-turned-teacher and a current student with a global perspective. Ultimately, I sought to inspire hope and action, emphasizing the power of individuals—students, educators, and community members alike—to drive change and reclaim safety and justice in the face of one of Iowa's darkest chapters.​
​
Part of my Top Ten Emerging Journalist portfolio, IHSPA (2024)
I was inspired to write this article after my first time witnessing a classmate use AI for a school project. With that moment, I had a stark realization that AI had arrived in schools, and it was not going anywhere. From there, I was driven to report the implications of AI's arrival. I started by investigating the first documented AI in a silent film called Metropolis. Then, I came to understand how AI has developed into what we know today by synthesizing documentaries and articles. I proceeded to interview eighteen teachers of every department, the principal, and College and Career Coordinator at my high school. Finally, I offered my own student perspective and ultimately prompted readers to question their relationship with AI and with education. To me, every article is a puzzle, revealing a grand story as the pieces come together. This one demanded the largest set of interviews I have ever conducted, combined with in-depth research and personal reflection. By weaving together these perspectives while maintaining a clear voice as a writer, I told a story that underscores the complexities—and possibilities—AI brings to education.
​
Part of my Top Ten Emerging Journalist portfolio, IHSPA (2024)
Student Life
​​​Journalists hold the responsibility of being a voice for the voiceless, but this article gives that sentiment a new meaning. Mrs. Diane Thierer’s classroom is a place where students, including myself, are encouraged to share our voices at a time when communication skills continue to be stunted from the pandemic and teachers' efforts to guide classroom conversations often fall into silence. By bringing attention to a teacher who is ​​preparing her students for a future where dialogue bridges divides rather than deepens them, the article challenges the status quo, addressing the role that open and honest communication plays in shaping the way we understand each other in a world where conversations are too often avoided or feared. Using Mrs. Thierer's approach as an example, this article guides readers to reclaim the art of speaking and listening with empathy, intention, and courage, making this piece a timely call for reinvigorating meaningful dialogue.
​
In light of my not-so-fun wisdom teeth removal, I saw an opportunity to turn this rite of passage into an article infused with fun as well as a chance to foster community. Blending personal anecdotes, humor, and scientific inquiry through a survey of fellow high school wisdom teeth survivors, I offered a relatable, informative, and refreshingly honest account of an otherwise dreaded experience.
Editorial
As my Theatre director and Speech and Debate coach, Mr. Timothy Sheaff was an integral part of my time at Dowling Catholic. His passing the summer before my junior year was profoundly affecting, and for a long time, I wasn’t sure I wanted to address his death in my writing. However, when he was named the honoree for the annual Ofrenda, a Day of the Dead altar designed by the Art Club, I knew it was a moment that deserved recognition. Honoring Mr. Sheaff's "bigger than life" personality while highlighting the faith-based community unique to my high school, this article allowed me to illustrate how faith and tradition breathe life into the community​.​
This article goes beyond telling a road trip story. It connects history with the present, personal growth, and the shared ties that unite Americans. By weaving in historical and literary references like the iconic house in Grant Wood’s American Gothic or Mark Twain’s hometown, I’ve created a reflection on how the American landscape shapes our understanding of our country. The piece also shows how everyday moments, like a meal at a diner or a quirky stop at a gas station, can reveal a deeper connection to American culture, illustrating that travel and exploration are not about grand destinations, but often about appreciating the little things along the way. Throughout, the article touches on the family dynamics of travel, juxtaposing moments of frustration with moments of awe and highlighting how life, much like a road trip, is full of unexpected turns, whether literally or metaphorically.
Through vivid storytelling and firsthand experience, this article reveals the broader value of a mission trip, aligning with the core mission of Dowling Catholic by showcasing how service and leadership can create lasting impact on both the travelers and the communities they help.
​​​
Featured in Dowling Catholic's Alumni Magazine, Focus (2024)
Features
During a visit to the Immigrant Welcome Network of Johnson County, I had the privilege of meeting the Shaban family, immigrants from Egypt who had come to Iowa just four weeks prior. After hearing their powerful immigration journey by way of an Arabic translator, I was most struck by the mother's story. While her husband would get a job and her children would go to school, she would remain at home, isolated from her new culture as she anticipated the birth of her fourth child within the coming week, their "American girl," whose birthright citizenship is sure to offer security, stability, opportunities, and resources amidst the trials that the American Dream can pose to first-generation families. By writing about immigration through the lens of an expecting mother, coupled with research on public health issues affecting immigrant mothers, I could give a voice to the often-overlooked emotional and profoundly human side of the immigrant experience. ​​​
​​Written during the University of Iowa Summer Journalism Workshop (2024)
​
Named Best Story of the Month, IHSPA (2024)
In today’s social media era, the path to fame has become more accessible than ever. A single 15-second TikTok video can propel anyone to viral status, creating a new kind of micro-fame. When two of my classmates went viral, I saw an opportunity to explore the double-edged nature of internet stardom. In my most raw interview, they shared the highs of being featured on Barstool Sports and approached by a consulting agency, alongside the lows of being reduced to “the girls on TikTok” and enduring devastating hate comments. It was my responsibility to present their candid journey, exposing the realities of social media fame, where both admiration and negativity coexist in a fast-paced, judgmental digital landscape. More than that, I was able to contribute to a larger conversation about how we view fame and the human toll it can take, especially on young people.
Every day during lunch at Dowling Catholic, students hear the familiar call: "Vegetables, come and get your vegetables!" It is the voice of one of the most beloved figures in my high school, yet one of the least known. Sitting down with Gunleseh Dolo, I came to know where his iconic lunchtime call came from and why it is important for him, revealing his history of immigrating from war-torn and vegetable-less Liberia. His experience growing up in a country where vegetables were scarce provided a poignant backdrop to the now iconic lunchtime chant, revealing how deeply it resonates with his past. Touching on universal themes such as family, faith, and the importance of helping others, the article ends with my own call for community action, donating to Dowling Catholic's 2023 Lenten Promise that, through Mary's Meals, would feed the students of Banjor Islamic Daycare and Elementary School in Liberia, Dolo’s home country, continuing his legacy of service and kindness in the place where his call for vegetables all began.
​
Featured in Dowling Catholic's cafeteria (2024)​​​
Entertainment
The death of Dame Maggie Smith marked the loss of a true legend in the entertainment world. Having portrayed her character, Professor McGonagall, on stage, I felt compelled to blend my personal experiences with her legacy, humanizing the story in a way that would connect readers to the emotional weight of her passing. While this approach deviates from traditional obituary-style writing, it was important for me to allow readers to experience the depth of Smith's impact in the same profound way I had come to know it.
I have never met, and likely never will meet, Margot Robbie (the actress behind Barbie), Taylor Swift, or Beyoncé. Yet, through their art, they have left an indelible mark on my life. In the summer of 2023, as the Barbie movie, Eras Tour, and Renaissance Tour all reached their peaks, I knew I was living in history; history for women everywhere. These cultural milestones not only defined that summer, but they also marked a moment in time that celebrated female empowerment. This was an article I needed to write. I needed to pay thanks to these women, even though they would likely never read it, and I would never meet them. I needed to celebrate their extraordinary moments through words, a way to process that, while the summer may have ended, their impact would last forever.
​
Part of my Top Ten Emerging Journalist portfolio, IHSPA (2024)
Tech
The form of this article really follows its function. By juxtaposing personal introspections with expert opinion, I invited individual social media users to consider their role in social media addiction instead of placing the responsibility solely on external forces, such as technology companies and government bodies.​ In doing so, I crafted a well-rounded social commentary that does not just talk about the problem, but engages readers in the solution.
​
Written during the University of Iowa Summer Journalism Workshop (2024)
With almost 300 views, this is my most-read article. I believe its popularity underscores the very point I subtly make: we are inherently drawn to social media, but we must be cautious not to become disillusioned by the tactics companies like Lapse use, particularly the nostalgic appeal they leverage to drive user engagement. It is both a cautionary tale and an analysis of a digital product trying to carve out its space in a crowded marketplace, making it a nuanced look at cultural analysis, business strategy, and consumer behavior.
What sets this article apart is its collaborative narrative, reflecting the universal nature of modern phone dependency and honoring the complex reality of a digital detox. By presenting different angles of the same experience, it offers a dynamic and nuanced exploration of our relationship with technology and moves readers to challenge their own phone-centric lifestyle.
Opinion
No matter the article I write, I am highly motivated by giving my readers a full picture of the situation. In the context of pho, that meant providing the history of pho in addition to my own review. I wanted to respect the fact that I am no pho expert, but thanks to the journalists before me, I have the power to educate myself. In this particular article, I hope I inspired other readers to do the same: to both experience and learn about new things, food or otherwise. Another notable aspect of this article is my word play. I love few things as much as I love word play and this article put that love on full display, adding a flair of fun to the piece.
Following a more traditional food review format, I balanced my personal connection to Brazil with my take on a variety of menu items at a new Brazilian restaurant, located just five minutes away from my school. Sharing these dishes with my mom, as she reconnected with her time in Brazil, was an incredibly meaningful experience—one deepened by her heartfelt conversation with our hostess. Through this review, I was able to immortalize those moments, illustrating how food can serve as a bridge to personal memories and cultural connections.
Sports
The newsroom, home to The Dowling Catholic Post as well as the yearbook staff, is lined with shelves that hold yearbooks dating back over half a century. It was here, as I flipped through the pages showcasing the girls' tennis players of seasons past, that I decided to track down some of these athletes ahead of the present team’s State Championship battle. With the team only titles from the 1990s and 2020s, it felt important that I contextualize the 30 year gap between state tournament success, uncovering the stories of hardwork and camaraderie behind those smiling faces in the yearbook and discovering the connection between past and present teams.
Although my high school has strong participation in athletic and academic sports, activities like Speech and Debate seem to be forgotten. In reality, however, the Speech and Debate team is the most decorated of any at Dowling Catholic. In this article, I foremost strived to bring much deserved attention to the recent success of the team, but I also wanted to highlight what makes Debate unique to any other sport: the partnership.