My interest in media started early. In high school, I worked on the sports page of the school newspaper, which was the first time I saw how documenting real moments could connect people. It gave me a sense of responsibility for telling things accurately and with intention, and it planted the first seed of how much I enjoyed working with stories.

          In college, that curiosity grew into photography. I traveled parts of Route 66 with a film camera, experimenting with light, composition, and the feeling of capturing real environments as they were. Those trips are what ultimately pushed me to switch my major at Indiana University to media production.

          Once I made the switch, everything clicked. I took cinematography and video production classes, learned the Adobe Creative Suite, and built skills in lighting, audio, post-production, and field production. One of my most formative experiences was completing an intensive summer film course that required producing a full short film from pre-production through final delivery. It was the first time I experienced the demands and collaboration required in a full production, and it solidified my interest in pursuing this professionally.

          During college, I worked at Kilroy’s on Kirkwood, one of the most active college sports bars in the country. I started at the door, moved into serving and bartending, and eventually became a bar manager. That environment taught me a lot about work ethic, communication, fast-paced problem-solving, and managing long hours. It was also where I got my first real exposure to marketing. I joined their marketing team, started shooting photos for their social media accounts, and eventually helped run campaigns and produce promotional and recap videos for large events. That experience showed me how content could shape a brand and built the foundation for my interest in video storytelling as a career path.

          I graduated in 2020, which shifted the job market and pushed me to try a few different industries in Nashville while I found my footing. The turning point came when a childhood friend invited me to travel to India to help create a documentary. That project gave me the real-world experience I needed—managing international travel with gear, navigating new environments, planning production in a country I’d never been to, and capturing stories responsibly and accurately. It reminded me why I pursued media in the first place and reignited the passion that started years earlier.

          That experience is what brought me back into the industry full-time. When I returned, I joined Image Resources as a Production Manager and video producer, where I’ve been able to draw from everything I learned — my technical foundation, the adaptability shaped by freelance work, and the communication skills built in hospitality. I use those strengths to create videos for attorneys and their clients, work that requires accuracy, clarity, and empathy for the people at the center of each story.

          Every step in the process—high school reporting, film photography, college production courses, bar management, marketing work, international documentary experience, and legal video production—has shaped how I approach storytelling today. Each chapter added something: technical skill, communication, adaptability, responsibility, and an appreciation for the people behind every story.