2017. Another year that has gone by that has me asking myself, "What's next?" I had the opportunity to travel thousands of miles across the country and across the continent doing what I absolutely love. I traveled to Washington D.C. with the super talented Jodi Martinez in early January to photograph the protests and celebrations surrounding the inauguration of the 45th president of the United States, trekking to Denver to have my drive reignited by Ross Taylor at "the Image Deconstructed," then later in the year had the privelege of traveling to Nicaragua with the Big Picture Project to document and help with their outreach.

Between all of the craziness, I got to really develop my love for storytelling and for other people while taking a new position at the Daily Egyptian, SIU's 101-year-old independent student publication in the back half of the year. During my time at the "DE" I've gotten to photograph some pretty incredible people, including three cheeleaders that have chosen to kneel during the national anthem. Despite pushback, these moments that make us "feel" something or bring light to an uncomfortable truth is the reason why journalists do what they do.

If you would have asked me a year ago if I would ever imagine myself where I am at this moment, I would have probably laughed and said "no way." I am so thankful for everyone that I've met in the past year and that has given a helping hand as I've learned to navigate and grow in this crazy world of photojournalism. 2018 – bring it.