Reporting & Writing
Look below to discover all my written work!
Community in harmony: Celebrate the Music 2024
Celebrate the Music is an annual event hosted by SchoolForce to showcase performances by students from the Belmont and San Carlos areas. These performances range from orchestras and jazz bands to choirs. This year marked the event's 20th anniversary. Along with a small group of fellow student journalists, I helped assemble a feature package for the event. We aimed to create an immersive experience with multimedia elements, volunteer profiles, and an exploration of the funding behind the event.
California bill removes synthetic additives from public schools
Proposed in March 2024, a California bill will ban six different synthetic additives from public schools. Since many popular snacks, like Flamin' Hot Cheetos and Froot Loops, contain these additives, I thought it would be relevant to the Carlmont community to write an article about the proposed ban. I interviewed our high school principal and the school district's Director of Food Services. While this ban will remove some beloved foods, it's worth recognizing that there are plenty of healthy alternatives.
Girl Scout cookies return for another sweet season
Girl Scout cookies are a classic treat enjoyed during the winter and spring seasons. As a cookie lover myself, I decided to write about the 2024 season and research all the new changes. The most notable change is the price increase, with each box now costing $6 instead of $5. Additionally, unlike previous years, no new flavors were introduced. I interviewed a young Girl Scout and a parent volunteer to get their perspectives. To keep the article unbiased, I also interviewed customers to hear their thoughts on the changes.
MELP transforms medical access in San Mateo County
Medical equity is a passion of mine, and when I learned about the Medical Equipment Loan Program (MELP) and its impact on the San Mateo County community, I was eager to find out more. I visited one of their storage warehouses and was amazed by the variety and amount of equipment and resources they provide for free. MELP supports not only local residents but also people from hours away, which shows the importance of equal opportunity in healthcare. It's important to recognize programs like these, and writing an article to spread the message to the public is the perfect way to do it.
Education downloads a system update
This was my first time writing a feature story, and it was an incredible learning experience. Until now, I had been writing articles of around 400 words, while this one was nearly 1,500 words. It was also helpful to have one of my friends as my partner for this project. Choosing a topic relevant to modern education made the process extremely eye-opening and interesting. Over several months, we conducted numerous interviews with EdTech companies and performed extensive data analysis on their growth, success, and potential benefits and consequences. All the work paid off, as we were able to receive multiple awards for the story!
San Carlos illuminates the holidays with annual Night of Holiday Lights
Covering a fun and exciting event like this is always a great experience. The writing process was quite condensed, as I conducted all my interviews on the day of the event, which helped improve my time management skills and ability to work under pressure. I enjoyed meeting a variety of people, from attendees to performers to organizers. This was also my first time creating a photo gallery for an article, which sparked my love for photography. Using an actual camera makes a huge difference compared to a phone.
VOICES and Samaritan House unite to organize holiday food drive
I'm always eager to learn more about local businesses and organizations, so discovering this event was a perfect opportunity to write a news story. VOICES and Samaritan House are both volunteer organizations dedicated to serving the community. Together, they organized a food drive to provide donated food to families in need. Recognizing these acts of kindness is important because it can attract a larger audience and encourage greater participation in the event.
After-school student crowds disrupt Belmont Library
This was my first time writing an article for Scots Scoop, and I chose a topic that is relevant to all students. The Belmont Library is a popular after-school location for several schools in the area, resulting in a very crowded atmosphere. To maintain an unbiased position, I let the sources I interviewed tell the story. I spoke with multiple students and the Teen Services Librarian at Belmont Library to gather quotes that conveyed their opinions. This was a good starting article for a new journalist like me.