When I was 5 years old, I submitted a small book I wrote called “Cat and Dog” to the “Literature” category in my school’s Reflections contest, an arts contest for students within the Utah Parent Teacher Association. The silly story had a handful of spelling errors and backward letters, but I somehow managed to move on to the state portion of the competition. Kindergarten me was thrilled to get recognition for an art piece based on my childhood pets, Jack and Minnie. This competition would not be the last time I explored the world of writing.
I have always known that I wanted to pursue a creative career. From writing short stories to creating quirky iMovies for YouTube with my friends and filming VideoStar music videos featuring popular Parry Gripp songs, my childhood was centered around creativity.
For years, I had an interest in following the path of filmmaking, so I started my first semester at the University of Utah studying film and media arts. I created a few small film projects but soon realized I wanted to explore other aspects of media. That’s when I enrolled in Media Writing in my second semester. I immediately fell back in love with writing, just like I was when I was a kid. My homework felt exciting, rather than like an obligation, allowing me to write about the topics I was passionate about. My class and personal projects covered a range of subjects including cultural stories, fashion and celebrity culture. I knew I wanted to continue writing about my passions.
At the end of my second semester, I decided to switch my major to communications with an emphasis in journalism. This has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Attending my classes every day is enjoyable. I love my professors, the coursework and my peers. Through writing, I have met many amazing people, and I am lucky to have the opportunity to share their stories — and I still do.
However, I wanted to write more than just for class assignments. I started looking into The Daily Utah Chronicle and determining which desk would best suit my personality. That process did not take much time, as it was evident that the answer was the arts desk. The desk covers all my interests — film, music, pop culture, fashion and more.
My first article for The Chronicle was on the 2024 Arts Bash on campus. I was fortunate enough to speak with Marina Gomberg, the director of communications and marketing at the U, about the importance of the arts for college students. I felt strongly about this topic, so being able to emphasize it meant a lot to me.
Since my first article, I have written more about topics including fashion at the Venice Film Festival, a review of the Academy Award-winning film “Anora,” and the impact of academic heroines in television and film. I feel extremely blessed and fortunate to call writing about these exciting stories my job.
However, one experience from my time at The Chronicle stands out: my reporting at the Sundance Film Festival in 2025. Growing up, one of my favorite things to do was to keep up with the press tours of new movies and shows. I was constantly watching celebrity interviews and live streams of red carpet lines, dreaming of how amazing it would be to be there. Well, my dream came true at Sundance. I attended two red carpet premieres and an after party for a film.
Not only was it the coolest weekend of my life, but it was also one of the biggest periods of growth I’ve experienced in journalism. I have always struggled with confidence during interviews, but my reporting on the red carpets helped me gain so much more belief in my abilities. While I was conducting the interviews, I remember thinking to myself, “Just breathe. I am lucky to be where I am now, so I need to push through with confidence and enjoy the moment, no matter what.” Now, I take this attitude into every interview that I have, and I have The Chronicle to thank.
I am confident that journalism is the correct path for me. Recently, my dad sent me a camera roll flashback from 10 years ago, when I was just 9 years old. It was a picture of a list hung on my bedroom door titled “Ava’s Goals.” The list included six items, ranging from finishing elementary school to attending the U. The sixth goal, after finishing college, was to “keep writing,” and that is exactly what I plan to do.
