Hi, I’m Kaya Collins. I’m 17 years old and soon starting my senior year at Forsyth Central High School. I’ve lived in Forsyth County my entire life and I love it but can’t wait to leave and experience more. I have one younger brother starting 8th grade in the fall and a dog named Ozzy. My dad is from upstate New York and my mom is actually from Poland. Having a parent who came to the U.S. on her own at an age younger than I am now has completely changed my perspective on the world, people and how to live your life fully. I’ve learned that anything really is possible and if you want to do something badly enough in your life, you’re able to accomplish it if you try. I also think it’s really important to find something that you love to do the rest of your life instead of working mindlessly at a job you dread until retirement.

I don’t actually plan on going into journalism once I graduate high school. I’ve always struggled with not being good at the things I enjoyed and then being good at things I don’t have a huge passion for. The closest I got to finding something that checked both of those boxes was writing. Specifically writing for absolutely anything sports related – sports journalism. That was it, my plan. I figured I could be decent at it and wouldn’t mind pursuing a career in it for the rest of my life. Then came the questions and grilling. Adults always asking, “So what job do you want to have?” or “Where is that job going to take you and what do you want it to do for you?”, and then one day somebody asked me why. “Why do you want to write?”. I couldn’t come up with an answer. That’s how I knew I wasn’t going to write for the rest of my life. I have so much respect for good writers and I enjoy it myself, but I was finally able to decide that it wasn’t truly a career I saw myself in.

I do also play a sport. I’ve run three years so far for our high school track and field team and it’s the most incredible experience. The connections that you make with people from the long meets and cold practices together are something so valuable that it’s hard to express. The thought of next year being our last together is almost crippling. I really don’t know who I would be without running and the people I met through it so it will always be a little part of any personal statements or pieces I write.

I may not become a writer but writing will always be apart of me and act as an outlet for all of the stories that I’ll experience and collect as I keep getting older.

Hi, I’m Morgan! I am now going into my second year as a graduate student at the University of Georgia, pursuing a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. I recently earned my Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, along with a minor in sociology and a certificate in News Literacy, from the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at UGA.

I’ve always had a passion for mass communication. My interest began in middle school when I participated in our morning show broadcast. That interest continued through high school, where I was a member of the journalism staff for four years. During my first two years, I worked in broadcast for the daily news announcements. Later, I launched my high school’s newspaper and produced new digital storytelling content, including producing video and audio storytelling for the website. 

During my undergraduate years at Grady College, UGA, I had the opportunity to engage in many rewarding experiences. While I can’t name them all, here are just a few. I interned as a Digital Producer for The Oglethorpe Echo, where I developed strategies to promote special coverage and features. I also did numerous internships, providing weekly analytics and creating content.

One of the most meaningful projects I worked on was a documentary titled “‘We Will Rise:’ The Story Of The Apalachee High School Shooting.” I served as one of the producers and social media producers for this project, creating social content and conducting in-depth research and interviews, while collaborating closely with my team. This documentary not only allowed us to support a hurting community in need in a meaningful way, but it also earned a Student Production Emmy Award.  I also interned for The Christian Index through the Cox Institute for Journalism Innovation Digital Natives Internship. Where I created content for their digital newspaper and newsletter.

Through my academic and professional experiences, I have worked skillfully to tell the stories that need to be told through digital media while increasing audience engagement and increasing journalism’s role in society.