Perks of being there as a stand-in: some great photos for the IG.

My promise

At the age of 13 in a small town in South Georgia, I promised my parents that I would be a great storyteller to record my family’s immigrant journey in this country.

Here’s my attempt at explaining why I am still pursuing storytelling in a time when everyone (and their dogs) have a channel and camera to publish their own stories and my profession may be easily seen as obsolete.

I come from a generation that has always had the internet at its fingertips, which I appreciate for the accessibility: granting a voice to anyone, anywhere, at anytime is powerful. Buuuuut - I think the vastness of the web and its limitless possibilities has us constantly straddling a thin line between feeling extremely connected and painfully isolated.

My career philosophy is simple: I want to tell stories that bring people closer and make the world feel a little smaller. In a society driven by statistics and analytics, I believe in the importance of telling the personal stories that contribute to a thriving community. In my work, I promise to always keep pushing for higher quality, depth, and impact. I promise to be patient and never begin writing before I am done listening. I promise to never be done learning.

And still, l promise to be a great storyteller. 

For my parents, and for my children.