Today marks my first day as a news reporter for Litchfield Independent Review.
I am very excited to be here, and I look forward to learning more about the Litchfield community.
It would be my greatest pleasure to give a brief introduction about who I am.
My parents moved to Dubai due to the religious persecution of Baha’is in Iran. It was there they gave birth to me, my older sister, and my older brother.
I was nine years old when my father unexpectedly passed away in 2001, from a stroke.
This incident had an adverse effect on our lives, and we needed to move elsewhere as we had no means of a sustainable livelihood.
Also, we were still not able to go back to Iran, owing to the religious intolerance against Baha’is, which persist to this day.
As a result, we became refugees and moved to Turkey for about a year-and-a-half, working our way to seeking asylum in the U.S.
It was in early 2003 when we moved to northern California and united with our extended family who had been in the U.S. for decades.
I obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and a Minor in Religious Studies at the University of California, Davis in 2017.
At first, I intended to continue my studies and receive a Ph.D. in Philosophy and become a university instructor.
Upon learning that doctorate programs in philosophy were being cut and job prospects dismal throughout the country, I considered taking a different career path.
I knew that I had a passion for writing, creating videos, and taking photos, I decided to make that my long-term career.
I asked myself: “What career path would allow me to practice my passion and earn a living?” to which the natural answer was Multimedia Journalism.
Having a philosophy background that helps me ask questions and delve into profound subjects, and coupled with my passion, I thought journalism was definitely the best fit.
I moved to Minnesota to earn a Master of Science in Strategic Mass Communication at St. Cloud State University (SCSU), and to also take advantage of the campus TV studio and newsroom.
Experience at SCSU has been tremendous for me. I was able to gain hands-on practice as a news anchor and reporter for UTVS, and a news writer for the University Chronicle.
In summer 2018, I interned for Townsquare Media and contributed to news for WJON. At WJON, my news writing skills improved, and I learned a lot about how radio broadcasting works.
What these past few years have taught me is the great power information has on our lives as individuals and the community.
I know that the concept of truth and what it means is difficult to describe, but it is not impossible.
My work here is to do the digging, researching, asking, and reporting in order to make sure you will be informed.
As a journalist, I want to do my best to serve the community by covering stories that matter to all of us.
I am here to inquire into situations, to the utmost of my ability, and to confirm the facts, and then to set them down in writing.
Please, if you spot me in the area, say hello and introduce yourself. I am eager to meet you all soon.
