Reporting and Writing
[News Story]: “The Case of the Missing Punahou Boxing Ring”
While brainstorming article ideas at our school archives, I came across a campus map that indicated a now-gone boxing ring. Intrigued, I began researching its history and compiled it through this article. I was excited to share my findings with the community, highlighting a historical part of our school that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Realizing the freakishly ritualistic nature of our pep rally, I mentioned my awakening to a friend, who laughed and claimed it wasn't “that deep.” Determined to change her mind, I dug through old yearbooks and newspapers to contextualize the event. I gathered quotes. For the finishing touch, I interviewed a student at our rival school who asserted that their letter-burning tradition was “better” because of the preceding Cheerfest and student skits.
With this op-ed, I convinced my friend to skip Flaming P as a small protest against it. From this experience, I realized the power of writing to open dialogues and change opinions.
[Opinion]: “How To Enjoy Running”
In this piece, I highlighted parts of my life that I struggled with such as perfectionism and procrastination. While it felt uncomfortable to share such vulnerable parts about myself with the entirety of our campus community, I believe that those bits served as an excellent preposition for the main message of the article: be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Reading a heartfelt comment from a Punahou faculty member who resonated with my experience showed me how vulnerability and personal details in journalism can connect individuals.
[Sports]: “Sports vs. School: Hurdles of a Punahou Student Athlete”
As the sports editor, I was assigned to write one piece per semester on sports. I do not play any sports myself, so writing this feature allowed me to learn more about the student-athlete experience at our school. Additionally, I learned that for busy interviewees (like multi sport student-athletes), Google Forms or written questionnaires work more effectively than sit-down interviews.
[News Story]: Improving Connectivity and Education: Punahou’s New Phone Policy
When our school launched a new phone policy, the student body began buzzing with frustration and confusion. So, I wanted to learn exactly what the policy was and what it meant for the students. To do so, I had to be investigative; I conducted multiple interviews with leading teachers and administrative deans. I compiled their information to form a timeline of the policy. By sharing this article, I educated students and clarified information about the policy.