superpowers

⭐ What's your superpower? ⭐

I make s*!t happen.

I've never been one to shy away from difficult conversations or accept the status quo. I push boundaries. I ask tough questions. I'm curious and energized and thrive making change happen. If I believe in something enough, I push for it. If something good can come from sharing a story, I tell it. If someone needs help, I'll be there. If there's something I need to learn or do, I'm in.

I remember when my parents dropped me off at Kent State, I literally held on to the car as they tried to pull away from Stewart Hall. I remember saying to my mom through the open passenger window, "They kill students here!" It was true. Well, at least somewhat true. I didn't learn about the Kent State shootings when I was in high school. Unfortunately, I found out shortly before leaving my home in western Pennsylvania for my freshman year at KSU. I was mortified. I just wanted to learn things so I could become a journalist. I wanted to be the next Ben Bradlee. I certainly didn't want to die doing it. The Kent State shootings weren't featured in the colorful tri-fold pamphlet I had to look over when applying for journalism school. And now, here I was in another state at a college where I knew nobody — and where kids came to die.

I was dramatic. But not wrong.

At KSU, I learned a lot about being an ethical journalist. My time there gave me a solid foundation to head out into the world to become an editor. A writer. A journalist.

And it's those years at KSU that set me on a path to become the curious, truth-seeking, hold-the-powers-accountable citizen I am today.

I once sat down with Civil Rights leader Ruby Bridges for several hours to talk about her life and her dreams for a better future. She felt comfortable enough to share personal stories I will never speak to another human. She opened up to me. We had a difficult — but lovely — two-way conversation that (mostly) became a story I was able to share with others. She has a superpower of bravery and changemaking. I love learning more about people’s superpowers. Hers follows her into a room, it’s so powerful.

My kids have their own superpowers. It’s been a delight watching them grow and learn. It would take all day to list them. But one particular one comes to mind lately, as one of my middle son’s superpowers was on display this past holiday break. While home for Christmas, he decided to pick up some origami paper he hadn’t used in maybe a year or more — and make a dragon. Hundreds of folds, delicate and precise, to create one fantastic, roaring dragon that is missing no detail other than maybe the fire itself. But that fire is felt and almost visible in the passion my son has for creating things with his own hands and gifting them to others. He used to make these dragons for servers in restaurants while we waited for food. They’d be so stunned and grateful, wondering how a middle-school child was able to create such an intricate piece of art. He does it all by memory. Even after years of not making a thing, he can pick up a piece of paper and create hundreds of folds to form all sorts of things.

We all have superpowers. One of the best things in life is to figure out what they are.

I’m a storyteller. An editor. A writer. A journalist. And that fire and passion will never fade. I can pick up a pen and reporter’s notebook, sit down for a conversation, and weave a story for the world to read.

Creators need to create.

It’s what we do.

And I’m always looking for my next assignment.

what’s your tree story?

Made with Squarespace