Breaking through challenges

Early Life and Vision Loss

I was born at just 23 weeks and spent the first four months of my life in the NICU. During that time, I was diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity, a condition that ultimately led to the loss of my vision. Throughout my early childhood, I underwent 14 eye surgeries in an attempt to save my sight. Despite these attempts, my vision could not be saved. At the age of three, I had surgery to receive prosthetic eyes. Although my journey began with medical challenges, these experiences shaped my resilience from a very young age. They have influenced the way I approach life, teaching me to adapt, persevere, and find strength in every obstacle.

Education and Independence

I attended public school from pre-kindergarten through my senior year of high school. At the age of 16, I was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which introduced additional challenges and required me to adapt both physically and mentally.

Following high school, I attended the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired for three and a half years. During my time there, I developed essential independent living skills, including doing my own laundry, using a microwave, and learning basic cooking. These experiences helped me gain confidence and prepared me for greater independence. While attending ISVI, I also took classes at Lincoln Land Community College in Jacksonville, which helped prepare me for college-level academics.

In August 2025, I began my college journey at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I initially wanted to pursue a degree in applied communications before transitioning to mass communications with a concentration in journalism. This change was inspired by an opportunity with Minds Eye, where I became a volunteer sports reporter. Through this role, I have covered SIUE athletic events, as well as games involving St. Louis City SC and the St. Louis Blues, along with the annual Braggin’ Rights Game in St. Louis. The flexibility of this opportunity has allowed me to prioritize academics while gaining valuable hands-on experience, and it has reinforced my goal of becoming a sports reporter.

Love for Sports

My passion for sports began in February 2021 when I discovered Premier League broadcasts on Telemundo. I was immediately drawn to the energy and passion of the commentators. Soon after, I began watching Manchester City and became deeply connected to the team after seeing Noel Gallagher react to their dramatic 2012 title-winning match. That moment introduced me to the emotional power of sports fandom. That same year, I expanded into international soccer, following teams like England and Spain, and later both the U.S. men’s and women’s national teams. Around this time, I also discovered college sports through the BYU Cougars women’s soccer team, whose dedicated fanbase sparked my broader interest in collegiate athletics.

In 2023, my interest in sports expanded rapidly. I attended my first hockey game, watching the Springfield Jr. Blues, which led me to follow the St. Louis Blues. That same year, I followed the debut season of St. Louis City SC, a moment I had anticipated for years.

My passion also grew across women’s sports. I became interested in women’s college basketball following a standout moment from Caitlin Clark, and continued into softball with the Oklahoma Sooners, volleyball with the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and professional soccer with the Kansas City Current, who play at CPKC Stadium.

As I explored more college athletics, I developed strong connections to teams like the Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team and the LSU Tigers baseball team, and later became interested in gymnastics programs such as the LSU Tigers, UCLA Bruins, and Missouri Tigers following the 2024 Olympics. I have also explored college football, following programs like Missouri, LSU, and Penn State, while continuing to appreciate the atmosphere and storytelling behind the game.

Across every sport, one theme has remained constant: my connection is driven not only by the athletes, but by the voices that bring the games to life. Broadcasters such as Chris Kerber, Joey Zanaboni, Brian Barnhart, Kevin Harlan, Ian Eagle, Joe Buck, and Chris Fowler have shaped my experience, making each moment more vivid and meaningful.

From soccer to basketball, softball, volleyball, gymnastics, and beyond, my love for sports continues to grow, brought to life by the passion of fans, energy of competition, and storytelling power of great broadcasting. With my background and experiences, I hope to build a future as a sports reporter, sharing those same moments and connections with others.