I was the editor of the Interrobang from August 2015 to September 2017—my first job after graduating with my bachelor’s degree in journalism. I was originally hired as the lead reporter, but on my first day, the editor position became available, and John Said decided to take a chance on me. To say my years at the Interrobang were incredible would be an understatement. This time was transformative, not just for my career but for me as a person.

It helped refine my news judgment and put into practice what I learned during my time in school. It gave me a sense of independence and truly helped me understand what hard work looked like. It let me flex my creativity and tell some pretty incredible stories. It also helped me discover my passion for mentorship, leading a team of 25 writers.

This time also saw some incredible “wins” for the paper. We received OCAA Sports Media Coverage awards in 2016 and 2017, and we won an Ontario Community Newspaper Association (OCNA) Better Newspaper Competition Student News Writing award for a breaking news story we wrote about an attack at the downtown Fanshawe campus. That award-winning story also led to policy change and additional security being hired—a moment that showed me the power of journalism, the power of the Interrobang.

During my time at the newspaper and in London, Ont., I also met my now-wife—you could say I’m grateful for the job at the newspaper.

Fast forward to 2025, and my wife and I are living in North Vancouver, BC, having just welcomed our first baby last August. I’ve also now ventured from journalism into communications (the dark side, as they say) and am happily working in the marketing department at my local hospital. I still use all of the skills I learned back in those early days at the Interrobang.

The ability to write concisely, ask the right questions and think critically has served me in ways I never expected. Journalism, and the Interrobang, gave me a foundation that has been invaluable in communications—understanding audiences, crafting compelling narratives, and making complex information accessible. While I may no longer be in the newsroom, the lessons I learned there continue to shape the way I approach my work. And in many ways, that first editorial role wasn’t just the beginning of my career—it was the foundation for everything that followed.