A Collection of my Journalistic Work
Recent Work
RIT Students Use Data Visualizations to Pose Questions About Crime, Policing, Parks, and More
This piece is a collection of student work from my Data Journalism class where we were tasked with generating story ideas and data visualization using data provided by Open Data New York. Professor Hinda Mandell selected stories for publication with WXIR. Below is a link to the article containing my work alongside my fellow students.
Manifesting Milestones
This Features piece tells the story of three couples getting married during the Covid-19 pandemic. While exploring financial issues and planning dilemmas the couples shared their love stories amidst a time of isolation and quarantine.
Further information and the full story can be found below.
Manifesting Milestones
*Photo taken by Karen Salinas, provided by Matt and Sãmia Kazimir
“A traditional wedding requires weeks if not months of planning. Couples spend time choosing everything from seating arrangements to color schemes. It will be stressful and time consuming but the end result is worth it. But what would happen if you threw a global pandemic into the mix?”
Caring For Your Complexion
*Photos by Diana Spencer
“Most college students understand the importance of living a healthy life. A balanced diet, exercise and proper stress management tools are vital to surviving the college years. One thing often overlooked can be the health and care of one’s skin.”
Lost In Life
*Photos by Jay Schading, Illustration by Sara Calhoun
“I have always been pretty sure I know who I am: what I stand for, what I don’t stand for, my beliefs — you name it. I appeared to have it all figured out. If someone would ask me what I was planning to do in five years’ time or 10 years’ time, I always had an answer. I was also a liar.”
Changing Expectations
*Photo-Illustration by Madeline Watson
“To whomever told me that going to college would be a good idea ... I have some words for you:”
Balancing the Personal and Professional
*Illustration by Monica Nguyen-Vo
“College students are faced with balancing their courseload, family, friends, clubs and work — not to mention their sanity. The task of being a college student comes with the understanding that your time is no longer yours. Your 24-hour day may consist of a mere two hours of free time, which you spend shoveling food into your face after not eating all day.”
Science Fiction Becoming Reality
*Illustration by Darius Serebrova
“Ever wonder where those neon yellow, green, blue and pink fish came from? You know, the ones that have all the matching accessories: tanks, decorations, rocks and their own special ultraviolet light? Well, as it turns out, a team of scientists in Singapore were the first ones to genetically modify fish to glow in such a way.”
Shift to Thrift
*Illustration by Elizabeth Dettman
“Thrift stores bring to mind that all-too-familiar smell of textiles and forgotten memories. The secondhand oversized band tees, out-of-style shoes and strange housewares come together to form a magical place where people can easily lose a few hours. The endless choices can be scary to someone who isn't well-versed in the thrifting scene, which makes going to the thrift store a daunting and often underrated shopping option.”
Breaking Down Brand Loyalty
*Illustration by Maliheh Rahrovan
“With new and innovative technology released every season, the competition to attract and maintain loyal consumers is intense. Whether or not one company has more advanced technology or a just-as-reliable and affordable option, big names, such as Apple, need to ensure that consumers go to them for the latest and greatest gear.”
Community of Climbing
*Photos by Tony Wen
“As March concludes, the Greater Rochester area will become home to the latest Central Rock Gym location. This soon-to-be rock climbing center is a quick 15-minute drive from RIT's campus. Offering activities from rock climbing to bouldering to yoga classes, this new facility is far from the typical image of a gym.”
HIV and AIDS Awareness: A shifting Epidemic
*Illustration by Unique Fair-Smith
“The HIV and AIDS epidemic in the U.S. has shifted since the first major outbreak in the 1980s. The epicenters of the outbreak — Los Angeles, New York City and San Francisco — are known to be safe spaces for the gay community. Yet, HIV spreads quickly through these communities and hundreds of people, primarily young gay men, were being diagnosed with little to no treatment plans.”
Google Versus Mosquitoes
*Illustration by Asher Bozman
“It is the middle of July, you're sitting by the pool perfecting your tan when bam, mosquito bite. One of the most common insects on the globe decided to make you its meal for the evening. The mosquito gets his dinner, and you're left with a raised red bump on your arm and potentially a deadly disease.”
Tackling the Runway: Rochester Fashion Week
*Photos by Debmalya Ray Choudhuri
“Wearable artwork created by RIT students took to the runway for Rochester Fashion Week on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2018. By applying what they have learned in class, students in the Metals and Jewelry Design major created visual statements ready for the grand stage.”
Changing Lives Overseas
*Photo provided by Kristina Owens
“The majority of our lives we are told we have the ability to change the lives of others and help those in need. In high school, we attended assemblies that talked about the importance of volunteering and giving back to others. For some, that led to pursuing a career in which that itch could be scratched, and good could be done.”
New Age Nicotine
*Illustration by Unique Fair-Smith
“Vaping and electronic cigarettes are said to be safer than smoking combustible cigarettes — but that doesn’t mean they aren’t harmful. E-cigarettes are just as addictive as traditional cigarettes. Both have levels of nicotine that can lead to addiction and numerous health risks, according to John’s Hopkins Medicine.”
RIT’s New Mental Health and Wellbeing Task Force
*Illustration by Unique Fair-Smith
“On Dec. 5, 2018, RIT sent out an email announcing the formation of a University Task Force on Student Mental Health and Well-Being. The announcement came from President Munson, Provost Ellen Granberg and Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Sandra Johnson.”
RIT’s Mental Health Task Force Update
*Illustration by Unique Fair-Smith
“Last December, RIT announced the formation of the Mental Health and Well-being Task Force.
The task force is a collaboration between faculty, professors and students. This ensures that all parties involved have input in the recommendations that are put forward.”
Simplifying Self-Care
*Photography by Olivia Kaiser, Illustration by Asher Bozman
“You find yourself waking up before the sun today. You need to attend class, turn in assignments, participate in meetings, pay bills and — at some point — eat food. College students are expected to get the most out of their time in school while earning their degree. They are expected to be heavily involved on campus, work a job so that they can start paying off those looming student loans and have a social life to get the full college experience. The pressure to be a perfectly well-rounded student creates many stressors. An effective way to help manage these stressors is to integrate self-care into your everyday routine.”
Behind the Bricks: Week of 03/02
*Illustration provided by Reporter magazine
“NASHVILLE TORNADO
On March 3, 2020, severe storms and at least one tornado hit central Tennessee destroying buildings and injuring several people, reported CNN.
Governor Bill Lee told reporters, “It’s a tragic day in our state. It’s heartbreaking.””
How To ROC the Fall
*Illustration by Jasmine Eustache
“As summer comes to a close and the Rochester winter fast approaches, figuring out how to spend your free time might prove to be a tricky task. The fall season is full of ever-changing weather, but luckily Rochester is full of activities for whatever the sky is up to.”
Transfer Perspective
*Illustration by Maggie Dybas
“The RIT student body is a diverse community, with different subsets of students who have all found a home here. One such subset is transfer students — whether that be a student who completed an associate degree, attended a previous university for another program or an adult student who is returning to school or continuing their education.”
Student Efforts to Expand Transgender Healthcare Pay Off
*Illustration by Lily Garnaat
“This fall the Student Health Center will offer expanded resources for transgender students. The program has been in the works since last year after students began to advocate for resources that they needed to be available on campus. The addition of programs, such as the ability to prescribe hormones to transgender students and the offer of support groups and individualized therapy, was made possible with the help of the Student Health Center (SHC), administration and the student body.”
A Different Kind of Bullying
*Photos by Ben Braun
“In August I came across the story of Jamel Myles. Myles was a nine-year-old boy who was starting fourth grade at Joe Shoemaker Elementary School in Denver, Colo. Over the summer Myles came out to his mother as gay. He was embraced by his family but not by his classmates. Within four days of starting the new school year, Myles hung himself in his bedroom as a result of excessive bullying. Myles' mother believes his death could have been prevented if the school had done more.”
Goodbyes Left Unsaid.
*Photo provided by Anika Aftab
“It is commonly known that an extrovert is someone who gets their energy from being around others. With COVID-19 forcing people into quarantine and limiting interactions with others, extroverted college students have to find ways to keep themselves occupied and maintain their lifestyles.”