I believe a lot of things. I believe music should be loud, food should be spicy and people who do CrossFit actually hate themselves. I believe sky boxes are the worst thing that ever happened to athletics, the top was still spinning at the end of Inception and almost anything can be made more fun by doing it outside. I believe everyone should spend 15 minutes a day dancing, cats are actually a government conspiracy and cheese is the surest sign that there is a higher power that loves mankind.

I’m also one of the old fashioned—some say naive—believers, who thinks journalism is a public service, not a profession, and that it truly has the power to change the world.

I graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism in 2015, with a Bachelor’s of Journalism. I moved to Palm Springs, Calif. in 2016, where I work as a community watchdog reporter for The Desert Sun, covering Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs and Cathedral City.

In a year or two, I hope to head overseas and become a war correspondent. I have long been interested in telling the stories of those involved in violent conflict around the world, particularly civilians caught in the crossfire.

I am an avid lover of travel, caffeine, good lagers and Newcastle United Football Club. My hometown of Chicago will always have a special place in my heart, but after my reporting career has ended I’d like to settle down with my husband on a small ranch with a big library, a Quarter Horse and two Siberian Huskies.