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HELLO!

I am Ridhima, a freshman at Michigan State University studying journalism. Currently, I am the Social Justice reporter for The State News , and I take photos and occasionally copy-edit for the Red Cedar Log -- the University's yearbook. I am the first South Asian to attain Michigan Journalist of the Year, awarded by the Michigan Interscholastic Press Assocation. Previously I have reported for the Detroit Free Press as an apprentice, I was  Editor-in-chief of The Huron Emery (my high school's newspaper)  and assistant adviser for Clague Middle School's newspaper, The Cougar Star.  I was also selected to attend USA Today's Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism conference, representing the state of Michigan.  I also volunteered to edit the University of Michigan's health blog articles and freelanced an article for the Ann Arbor Observer.  When I am not writing and reporting, you can find me dancing my way through life, discussing "what really defines the human experience," and watching Indian movies or romcoms with my mom. 

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As a journalist, I have realized that our stories are a cumulation of the people who came before us. They are the reason we are on the path that we are today. When I entered room 4203, as a freshman, I did not know what to expect. All I knew was that I was the only freshman in a senior-dominated class.  Every single day, I would feel intimidated to my core. I was scared to even approach anyone  even say anything, but something about being in that room made me think "I belong here." Like gravity pulls us to the earth, that room pulled me towards journalism and the art of becoming a storyteller.  Now, as a senior, I am not scared. I find myself asking difficult questions every day. They are what inspire the stories I write and those stories inspire change within my community. It's all about the people and sharing their stories. After all, one story can make an impactful dent in the pillars of our democracy. Those dents are what make a difference. I have found my path now to becoming a journalist and lawyer in the future. 

Web managing editor Satvika and I worked on a story together in this issue. This was us at the JEA Fall conference in St. Louis.
 

Vish, a former EIC, Allison, my co-eic, and I are all on a phone call with a Washington Post reporter. She read my after-effects article and I am mentioned in her article. Click the image to view the article I was mentioned in. 

  • Michigan Journalist of the year (2023)

  • 18 Michigan Interscholastic Press Awards (2020-2022)

  • 2nd place Youth Journalism Award in Feature Photography

  • National High School Media Contest 2021, excellent in Portrait Photo

  • National Scholastic Press Association - Best of Show for The Huron Emery - 10th place (2022)

  • National Scholastic Press Association - Best of Show for  The Huron Emery - 3rd place (2021)

  • National Scholastic Press Association - Best of Show for  The Huron Emery - 4th place (2019)

  • Columbia Scholastic Press Association Crown Finalist for The Huron Emery (2022)

  • Spartan Award - Newspaper (Topmost award awarded from the Michigan interscholastic press association in a Spartan Critique contest) (2022)

Science teacher Daniel Trevisan yelled across the hall, "Ridhima, I really like your articles in The Emery

I inspired there to be a Huron Students Demand Action club and menstrual products were being placed in the restrooms after the article I wrote about it got published.

Many of my peers said my pessimist column helped them see another perspective. 

A Washington Post reporter read my article and said it was " a great piece of writing." 

 

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