Reporting & Writing
My work as a student journalist
Opinion: "The danger behind the screen"
After an agent from Honololu’s branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) paid a visit to Mid-Pacific to share the importance of internet safety, my school was buzzing with conversation. I decided it was necessary to examine and report on the risks of social media and continue the conversation. This article outlines the dangers of “sexual extortion”, a scam that uses blackmail and targets minors for money or explicit content. Venturing beyond my typical reach, I decided to interview a Special Agent from the FBI. This article left me with a newfound understanding of the role journalism plays in conveying information, and how it can be used to impact a broader community. I later received recognition from the FBI Special Agent in charge of the Violent Crimes squad who read my article.
News: "Supply chain crisis: shortages in the supply chain put holiday shopping at risk"
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, aspects of our daily lives were struggling to return to normalcy. Shipping and the supply chain was one aspect, and turned out to be the assigned topic of my second article. Following a typical news article format, I started with formulating my angle– however, each attempt came up blank. How could I localize the issue of global supply chain shutdowns to my school on a small island? But as I did my interviews, my angle shifted and developed into something both relevant and relatable to my school community: Christmas gifts and holiday shopping. The article was informative and accurately represented the news event while maintaining a connection to the community that is necessary to journalism.
Best of SNO News Article award winner
Opinion: "The Female Experience"
After an expulsion at my school made waves and shocked the community, I felt it was imperative to discuss the further implications this incident had. A student had been expelled for sexual misconduct, an issue many women experience firsthand daily yet rarely see the consequences of. As I gathered thoughts from the women on campus who were affected by the news and nature of the incident, I began to develop a deep understanding of the impact certain types of cultures have on the people a part of them. Titling the article “The female experience”, I highlighted those who are often overlooked in events such as this one while discussing existing issues in our modern society. This article reflected the thoughts and feelings of my community, while also presenting a unique ethical consideration I had to approach with delicacy.
2024 HHSJA Opinion Writing 1st Place
Feature: "Inclusivity- Fact or fiction?"
Na Pueo always aims to feature members across our whole community in a way that is engaging and informative, showcasing the various aspects of our unique student body. For this feature article, I wanted to tackle the concept of performative activism while also highlighting the work being done by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Club. In my interviews, I learned about the difficult narratives that often stunt the growth of a community and how the DEI Club and its members are aiming to combat these challenges. Through research, interviews, and the production of this article, I delved deeper into an aspect of my community, and then shared these insights on a broader scale to uplift DEI Club and their work.
News: "Mid-Pacific Community Confronts Racism and Ignorance: Call for Education and Change"
In this news article, I collaborated with my peer to write about a racist incident that occurred on campus, and what Mid-Pacific’s next steps were to improve going forward. This article proved itself to be one of the most challenging yet, with minimal willing sources open to discussing such a complex topic on a public scale. However, this piece was also what ignited my passion for having the uncomfortable conversations that lead to improvement. This news story discussed the racial incident that occurred, any relevant background information, and featured quotes from our community about how it impacts them. This article was both challenging and rewarding, for me as a writer and for my greater community.
Opinion: "Indoctrination, or Just Education?"
The topic of politics is a tricky one, and harmful bias grows more and more prevalent as these conversations impact personal relationships. Because of this, I decided to write an article featuring various student perspectives and opinions on the place politics have in education and school discussions. Though it is an opinion article, I felt it necessary to include both sides of the conversation and accurately represent the issue from all angles to uphold my responsibility as a fair and equal reporter. Through gathering quotes and insight from various students and teachers with unique perspectives, I showcased a broader scope of opinions while including my own, producing a well rounded and impartial article about a complex subject.
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2023 HHSJA Third Place Opinion Article award
Sports: "The mental game: athletes and emotional health"
My very first article assignment was a sports story, featuring an often overlooked aspect of athletics: the mental state. Physical well-being is so important to athletes, but this article discussed the importance of a healthy mind as well. To gather information on this subject, I spoke with mental health professionals at my school, as well as coaches who have a unique understanding of athletes and their mental health. Though my technical abilities have grown immensely from this first story, I feel it accurately showcases the instinctive commitment I have always had to reporting on often unseen angles of a story and bringing light to them.