If there’s one thing my educational journey has taught me, it’s that I didn’t get here alone.
Before I ever stepped onto campus at the U or wrote a single story, there were people who believed in me when I wasn’t sure I believed in myself yet. More often than not, those people were women.
The biggest reason I’m here at all is my wife, Wendy Brown. She is the smartest and most loving person I could ever ask for, but more than that, she pushed me to take a chance on myself. As a public defender, she stands up for people whose stories are often overlooked or misunderstood. She works tirelessly for her clients and treats every case like it matters, because it does. Watching her fight for people who do not always have a voice has shaped the way I think about journalism and the responsibility that comes with telling someone else’s story. Going back to school was not always the obvious choice, and there were plenty of moments where it would have been easier not to. But she never let me take the easy way out. She believed I could do more, and because of that, I did. Before I ever wrote a story, she helped me believe I had one worth telling.
My path into journalism really started at Salt Lake Community College, where I met Marcie Young Cancio. She was the first person who made me realize that journalism was not just something I enjoyed. It was something I could actually pursue. That changed everything for me. I followed her to the U, and that decision led to opportunities I never would have imagined when I first walked into her class.
One of those moments was enrolling in the Voices of Utah capstone class and then getting the chance to speak on a panel about women’s sports at Media Fest in Washington, D.C. It was one of those full-circle experiences where I could step back and realize how far I had come. Not just as a student, but as someone who now had a voice in conversations that matter.
When I joined The Daily Utah Chronicle, I was able to cover programs and people at the highest level for the sports desk, including working with legendary coaches like Beth Launiere and Carly Dockendorf. Being around them was not just about reporting scores or results. It was about seeing leadership, consistency and excellence up close. It gave me a better understanding of what it takes to build something meaningful and sustain it over time.
But one of the most impactful people I have met along the way is Michelle Bodkin. Her story of perseverance, especially as a woman working in sports, stuck with me. This is an industry that has not always been easy for women to break into and even harder to succeed in. Watching the way she carries herself and the respect she has earned showed me what resilience really looks like. It made me think more about the stories I tell and the responsibility that comes with them.
The Chrony gave me more than just a byline and experience. It showed me what kind of stories matter and who they matter for. Covering women’s sports changed the way I see this field. These are stories that deserve attention, and I’ve seen how easy it is for them to be overlooked. That is something I want to keep being part of changing.
At the same time, this experience made me think about the future of journalism. There are a lot of unknowns, and that part is very intimidating. But I still believe in what this work is supposed to be. I believe in telling the truth, in earning trust and in giving people a voice.
As I look ahead, I know I want to continue telling stories in sports. I want to do it the right way. I want to highlight the people behind the performances and the journeys that do not always get the attention they deserve.
If there is one thing I will take with me from all of this, it is that none of us get here on our own. I didn’t, and I am grateful every day for the people, especially the women, who helped me become the best journalist I could be.
Because without them, I would not be here at all.
