So why English and journalism?
When I was a kid, I couldn't get my nose out of books. I constantly read at the dinner table, and as such, usually missed out on the best pieces of pizza and cake. My mom dragged me to the library when I was 8 and shoved a library card in my hand so I would stop asking her to buy hardcover copies of the Nancy Drew series. I've always been a reader, and I had great teachers throughout school who assigned fabulous books and were enthusiastic about reading. I joined my school newspaper my junior year of high school, and even though I only wrote movie reviews and edited the horoscopes, I was hooked. I loved everything about the publishing process: the research, the interviews, the writing, the editing, the design process, and the final product. I was lucky enough to be raised in the same city as the University of Florida, which houses one of the most prestigious communications programs in the country.
Where have you worked?
I spent two months during the summer of 2007 interning in London, England at FAMOUS Pictures & Features Agency where I was responsible for researching, fact-checking, and editing feature articles for entertainment magazines all across Europe. For three months during the summer of 2008, I was the deputy intern at CosmoGIRL! Magazine in New York City, where I was responsible for working on the magazine's annual college guide, attending production meetings, pitching story ideas, writing and editing short news and feature stowriting for CG's Web site, and assisting the deputy editor. For my last semester at UF, I interned at Broad Beach Media, a publications company in Gainesville, Fla. Working at a small company gave me the chance to research, edit, and write stories ranging from bodybuilder profiles to business stories. I had a lot of fun, and I gained extensive experience in editing and interviewing sources. I've also worked with and have had stories published through The Independent Florida Alligator and UF's College of Engineering Publications Department.
Any favorite books?
There are very few books I dislike and too many I love. Off the top of my head: Ian McEwan's Atonement, Bill Bryson's The Life and Times of Thunderbolt Kid, and Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
Favorite things to do in your spare time?
I absolutely love to dance, and I've been doing it ever since I could walk. I've been a dance instructor at Sun Country Sports for about two years, and I love teaching young girls ballet and jazz. I also enjoy cooking and baking. I've worked my way up from microwavable macaroni and cheese to homemade pasta. I also can't get enough of the programming on The Food Network.
