“Yet when I wake up and look out the window, I am energized.

I have hope. I see the possibilities — how, despite the darkness, this is also a time when we can rebuild our societies, starting with what’s right in front of us: our areas of influence. The world we once knew is decimated. Now we have to decide what we want to create.”

— Maria Ressa, How to Stand Up to a Dictator

Let’s be honest— it’s a bad time to get into journalism if one is looking for exceptionally stable, well-liked, and profitable work. Am I a walking banner advert or what?

As a student journalist, I’ve gotten several comments along the lines of, “I don’t know why you’d want to get into this work right now. Everything is too overwhelming.” The simple answer is that overwhelming, dare I say unprecedented times, make storytelling and responsible journalism more consequential than ever. There is no better time to highlight diverse voices, investigate solutions, and contribute to a well of information empowering the public. Instability is dangerous, but it presents an opportunity. Empathetic, incisive and community-engaged journalism has the power to inform not just the present, but the future.

And that’s something I want to be a part of.