About Me

If I’m being honest, journalism was never something I had set my eyes on for my future. I grew up juggling numerous alternative career interests in hopes one would stick out to me. In sixth grade, I wanted to be a doctor, but I hated the sight of blood and needles. In eighth grade, I wanted to be a singer, but I could not understand music theory nor learn how to sight-read. And in high school, I debated being a teacher, but I dreaded the thought of going back to school for the rest of my life. So when college application season arrived my senior year, I said “I like to write,” and chose journalism.

 

Little did I know it would be one of the best decisions in my life. And that I like to have written, not write. Thanks professor Foley.

 

Now, I didn’t instantly hit it off with journalism the minute I applied for the degree program. I attended Florida International University for my first undergraduate year, struggling to find connections and involvement opportunities within the field. Hence why I eventually transferred to the University of Florida in the fall of 2020. However, even with the nationwide COVID-19 lockdowns, I was able to begin my reporting career. And all it took was that one in-person reporting experience to fuel my passion for community journalism.

 

I vividly remember the moment, as I walked back to my car after interviewing the owners of a food truck in Miami. They were a couple who had risked their jobs for the sake of pursuing the wife’s culinary dreams of opening and running a food truck business. But with the pandemic, they were struggling to make ends meet each day. I sat there, my heart heavy yet beating rapidly, as their story had moved me and made me eager to put together the video assignment.

 

Since then, this hunger for telling people’s stories drove me to work at the university news desk for the Independent Florida Alligator and eventually as a student news reporter for WUFT News. Covering a range of stories from breaking news, student, faculty and campus news, features, an investigation and even an obituary, my focus has always been on the people. And in the process, I picked up a few new skills such as learning how to create source-narrated videos stories and audio wraps using Adobe applications, working with data, searching and accessing public records and even adapting to working in a fast-paced newsroom environment.

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Now, having worked for WPBF25 News as an Emma Bowen Fellow and at WRAL News as a CBC-UNC Diversity Fellow, I have learned the ropes behind broadcast journalism. I had the chance to shadow producers, MMJs, reporters, photographers, meteorologists, news anchors and digital and assignment desk editors. Slowly picking up the even quicker newsroom pace television stations demand and discovering my interest in pursuing a career within this field. With live shots, packages and a couple of anchoring experiences from my time at WBPF and WRAL, I feel more confident and passionate than ever now going into the journalism industry.

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As a 22-year-old, Miami-born, and raised Chilean-Uruguayan student journalist, I aspire to continue to amplify the voices of the community and share their stories through my work.