Stories & Observations

For residents used to mild winters, a snowstorm like this turns an ordinary morning into a neighborhood event. Cooper and Callie take in falling snow from a bench in Greer, bundled in matching winter vests as a rare southern snowfall blankets the area. Photo courtesy of Justin Spence. This morning, locals in Greer, South Carolina, woke up to snow-covered yards and an unexpected urge to play in the snow. Families around the area found creative ways to enjoy the snow. At an apa

As a Maine resident, my stance on the current administration has only strengthened. There is a constitutional need to uphold the law while holding the Department of Homeland Security and President Donald Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents accountable for actions that raise serious constitutional concerns. Support for Accountability I stand with Maine Gov. Janet Mills in support of expelling ICE from the state. State leaders’ responses to ICE activity and

Yesterday I learned that sometimes agency looks like changing a phone number. As most of you know, over the last few months, I have been working to really take control of my career, including reaching out to complete strangers in my field to ask if they would be willing to sit down and chat about their careers. I wanted to know what it was like in and outside the organization we work for. It started with a single email. To provide context, I work for a financial institution a

I had a networking meeting yesterday, and I was reminded of something. Success comes in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and in my case, fonts. Since I started building my writing portfolio, I have been networking with individuals in the writing field. One thing they all have in common is that they didn’t quit writing; they just pivoted how they worked. Most work in communications now—still writing, just not where they expected. Their writing goals didn’t disappear; they transform

“Oh, I used to get called all kinds of names. Burnt Toast. Crispy Bacon—Kids can be mean, and so can adults.” That’s what my mom said during a conversation we had about her burns. I was curious to hear her story. I knew bits and pieces, but not much else. To be honest, I still don’t. When my mom was a baby, the apartment she lived in caught fire because an unattended candle was left burning. After a stranger on the street rescued my mom from the burning building, she spent a

Finding My Voice in the World of Words When I write, I sometimes discover a magical space where everything else fades away. My fingers dance across the keys, creating a symphony of thoughts and ideas. These moments often come late at night, when the world is quiet, or during my daughter's peaceful naps. In those serene moments, I can breathe life back into my mind, body, and spirit. Yet, when I emerge from this creative fog, I often find myself staring at my work in disbelief

I've been networking a lot recently, and I've noticed that you won’t be successful unless you put yourself out there, which has probably been the most rewarding part of it all.   I've had a few connection meetings, ranging from head copywriters to heads of content. One thing that has been unanimous across all meetings is that I was overdressed. As funny as it sounds, it is true. Most of my meetings have been online via Teams, and each head I have spoken to has been dressed th

I haven’t always excelled at writing. Growing up, I struggled with reading and comprehension due to dyslexia. Writing wasn’t always so manageable; however, with determination and the guidance of a few outstanding educators, it became something that now brings me joy. It isn’t exactly all I enjoy doing, but it is the one thing that makes me feel extant. My favorite teacher, Mr. Ginorio, once told me that I had a skill, not a unique one, but a necessary one: effective communica