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reigning cats and dogs
The Huron Emery, March 3, 2021
Second Place, Interactive Graphic, Michigan Interscholastic Press Assocation
Sometimes the best things happen unexpectedly. In December, 2020, my mom and I took a trip to our local Humane Society — an integral part of the Ann Arbor community — looking for a surprise kitten for my little sister. While my mom was signing papers, I took the liberty to explore the place: a cozy abode with clever decor (from Uptown Cat to Pups Alley), but most importantly, unconditionally supportive staff and volunteers. Even with all the difficulties posed by COVID-19, they all still showed up and cared for our furry friends. That story — that love — is worth sharing.
AAJA JCamp, Oct.13, 2022
Eduardo, Eshaan, and I had bantered, brainstormed, deliberated, created, buzzed in a six-by-six foot room the night before. And into the wee hours, we had finally decided that for our long-anticipated trip to LA’s Little Tokyo we would interview Brian Kito, the owner to the legendary 117-year old mochi shop Fugetsu-Do. Not to mention, his shop was featured in Food Insider and BuzzFeed, accumulating over 10 million views. But the reason I am placing this piece into my portfolio is not because of the shop’s popularity. But rather because everything we learned in our interview was far beyond what we saw in those famous videos. We learned that Fugetsu-Do was about community, altruism, a love going strong for three generations, no matter the calamities.
writing
The Huron Emery, September 14, 2022
The Huron community is a very special one, and not just because of its diversity and strong sense of community. Fun, loving, yet unexpected moments always hit us. This one especially. How often do you find kittens under a high school stadium? It was like a nesting doll: a story within a story within a story, touching so many community members in so many different ways. This was also the first year back since the pandemic. It was hard. But there are moments brimming with light. And when you find them, remember them, share them. In my case, I storytold them.
After 42 years at Huron, the legend retires
The Huron Emery, June 5, 2022
Every year teachers retire. But a legend? Only every 42. Mr. Collins, Huron’s math department chair impressed everyone with his extended teaching time. But he loved it. He loved his students and the students, the staff, the building — we all loved him. His departure touched everyone. To honor his leave, I volunteered to write the story. I would jot down quotes he said in class in the margins of my calculus worksheets, stories and quotes I would revisit in the interview. And five days before his retirement, the story was published. For the community to remember such an impactful figure. But more importantly, on behalf of Huron, a “Thank you” to Mr. Collins.
Lessons from Pizza
The Huron Emery, April 22, 2021
Honorable Mention, Feature Story, NSPA Clips & Clicks
Published on Best of SNO
When I started writing for my school paper, it felt like I grew a ear or sharpened my vision. All I had to do to notice that stories were everywhere was be more attentive. In precalculus over Zoom, I heard my new teacher mention how he used to share his pizza with a homeless man, and they became friends. I was intrigued. I reached out saying I was interested in an interview regarding this. Maybe it was a story, maybe not. But it was worth a try. And one question led to another, until it became “Lessons from Pizza.”
The Huron Emery, April 23, 2021
What I have always loved about journalism is my ability to elevate voices, be the microphone or pedestal for someone else. With this story, I was able to do just that. In 2020, I attended school from the comforts of my household, and so did the majority of my classmates. We didn’t know what it was like to go to the frontlines every day, work overtime, risking our lives. That’s what inspired this piece. The reporting process was as heartwarming as it was heartbreaking, but I always kept in mind that this was dedicated to all healthcare workers, who were risking their lives every day so that the rest of us didn’t have to.
First Place, Feature Writing Quill & Scroll (international)
Published on Best of SNO
Who’s the actual villain: the truth about plastic bags and climate change
The Huron Emery, September 14, 2020
Information is the heart of all communication, let alone journalism. And misunderstanding from truthful fasts is what I’m bouncing off of here. Something even I had assumed was that simply using non-plastic bags automatically made me a planet-helper. But it apparently didn’t! To understand why, let alone know that fact, I had to comb through numerous online resources. And that got me thinking that many people in my community were likely unaware of this, as well. So I needed to tell them.