Had it not been for my mother, I would likely be happily teaching music to children today. My mother started my high school’s journalism program my junior year. She needed to boost enrollment to be able to offer the class and asked me to sign up. Needless to say, we both survived our semester in the same classroom and I came to love reporting. In 2006, I received a bachelor’s of science in journalism and a bachelor’s of arts (trombone) in music from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. I am currently pursuing a master’s in public policy from George Mason University’s School of Public Policy in Arlington. During my five years as a reporter, I have written for publications across the state including those in Richmond and Hampton Roads, but have worked primarily in Northern Virginia. Prior to working for the Fairfax County Times, I served as the state and local government reporter for the Loudoun Times-Mirror where I received a first place award for business reporting from the Virginia Press Association. During my time at the Fairfax County Times, I received a first and second place award for education writing from VPA.