I have also given a platform to produce stories that held a deeper meaning for me as a black woman. I was able to center the experiences and stories of other black women and share it with a wider audience. I argued continuously that these stories had value and had just as much importance to be told through a journalistic lens. My documentary, which was nominated for an award at the 2023 Student World Impact Film Festival, covering the impact of colourism on a young black woman growing up in the Caribbean encouraged a wider conversation about the internalized racism that many people from the African Diaspora have had to battle with. Even seemingly light-hearted stories I produced, like the price of afro-hair care, resulted in an exploration of the lack of hair salons and affordable products for people with textured hair in the UK.

Through these exercises I was able to curate stories that relayed the message of marginalized communities while still making them palatable to a wider audience. Throughout my time at Leeds Trinity I was able to hone my skills, becoming a multi-skilled and easily adaptable journalist that wanted to shine a light on stories that needed to be heard. I believe I have become a capable and competent journalist that recognizes the responsibility of this career I’ve chosen and the invaluable role it plays in society.

Ultimately, my goal has been the same since the beginning of my journey. While the accolades and praise is deeply appreciated and validates my years of perseverance, I do all of this so that I can return to that small chain of islands and bring with me a renewed vigor and passion for journalism. Pushing for better equipped, ethical and accessible local news that will assist in the development of my home, has and will forever be my end goal.

My career journey started early as I participated in any extracurriculars that required public speaking or writing. With my work being featured in national newspapers and radio, where I held a recurring presenter role on a youth-led program. There were not many opportunities to flex my journalistic passion in my home, Turks and Caicos Islands, so I created them. From successfully pitching myself as the lead news reader at the nation’s number one radio station to working with the founders of some of the island's most formidable local newspapers. My determination led to me pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism at the University of The Bahamas where I was taught by Yvette Stuart, a veteran in the Bahamian broadcast industry who taught me so much about ethical news gathering and challenged me to defend my stories at all costs and Paola Alvino who played a significant role in developing and strengthening my news writing ability. I was able to put these crucial skills into practice when I was appointed as the Editor-in-Chief of the University’s student publication the BluPrint developing the paper from its inception and overseeing the publication of four issues. I owe so much to the institution but still felt that there was more I could do, so I took the biggest step in my career by moving to the UK to transfer to Leeds Trinity University.

In just two years at Leeds Trinity University I have managed to accomplish so much from working with local publishers like Andrea Miscia, editor of the Yorkshire Business Journal, where I had the chance to host interviews with some of the most influential senior executives in the UK’s fourth largest metropolitan economy. I will never forget the first time I heard my voice on Bradford Community Broadcast radio, my voice being projected to thousands of people in a new country was an out of body experience. I would go on to produce multiple news bulletins that aired on BCB radio in which I brought my experience from working at my local radio station, receiving praise for my professional approach and voice. I was also introduced to new technology and methods of production that I would love to take back to the Turks and Caicos Islands and share with my peers. During my time studying at Leeds Trinity University I was also able to fully delve into my investigative journalism passions with projects that saw me going to extreme lengths to produce.