Yearbook introduced me to photojournalism–the field where I plan to build my career. When I joined the staff as a sophomore, I was struck by the power of storytelling through images and well-crafted narratives. Inspired by their impact, I set out to make a difference. Since then, I’ve found my purpose in amplifying silenced voices and uplifting my community. First, let’s take a look at my work in the form that started it all: yearbook.
yearbook
Here are a select few of my favorite, most impactful spreads from my yearbook career that utilize photos and copy to tell a deeper story.
Now Showing: Barbie
This spread is a powerful reflection on the Barbie movie, and the creative liberation it provided students at Willow Canyon. The photo of and words from the film class combine to form a narrative of perseverance and acceptance. I am very proud of this story and the space for expression it created.
Diamonds are Forever
This is the Varsity Softball spread I created. When I was taking these photos, I noticed that the starting freshmen pitcher-catcher duo does a signature handshake and hip-bump before the top of every inning. The story “Rookie Ritual” dives deeper into their budding friendship and aspirations for their high school careers. Furthermore, with the help of my staffers Emma and Scott, I wrote the “We Love This Day” story about the softball coach’s niece, Abby, who passed away from leukemia in 2014. The mantra “Abby Strong” has become a staple in Willow Canyon softball and launched the “I Love This Day” tournament our school hosts every year. The story dives into Abby’s story and her long-lasting legacy’s effect on our current players.
Celebrate and Serve
I am very proud of this student life spread about the MLK Jr. Day of Celebration and Service, hosted by my school, because it captures service, love, and selflessness. The choir performed the national anthem and Black Lives Matter anthem, “Rise Up” by Andra Day. The dominant story details the two soloists’ raw, emotional performances, and the acceptance they felt from their community that day as Black women. I also love “Show Up and Show Out,” a piece about the Boys Varsity Basketball team’s dedication to service and team-bonding. I took all of the photos of this event with the intention of capturing raw emotion in the community’s interactions.
new york times photo essay contest
My proudest accolade as a journalist so far is my feature in the New York Times. I placed in the top ten out of 528 submissions worldwide in the New York Times Learning Network’s student photo essay contest, “Where We Are.” A portion of my article is now published in the Times. Follow the link below and scroll to my essay, “After Years of Indigenous Trauma, This Fair and Market Unites All Walks of Life.”
spectrum of story
On my own time, I created a photo essay called “Spectrum of Story.” I used light, color, and posing to portray the five stages of grief–denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance–along with a final step: healing.
This project is both an artistic endeavor and a reflection of my own journey through loss and healing, aiming to create a space where emotions are visible, valid, and understood. By sharing my experience through visual storytelling, I hope to encourage others to creatively express their emotions and experiences.