Writing was my form of expression as I was adjusting to a new country, language and culture after moving to the United States from South Africa at the age of 6. My second grade teacher, Mrs. Farnella, was the one who told me I can write. All it took was one person to recognize a calling that gives one the confidence to pursue it.

In high school, while my friends spent their last weeks of summer vacation at the beach, I was at yearbook camp, trying to be the very best editor-in-chief of our high school yearbook that I could possibly be. We all still laugh about it today, but when you truly enjoy something, you’re focused, fully present, and don’t think about the other things you might be missing out on.

When I started pursuing a journalism degree, I didn’t think I had it in me. The cold calling. The persistence to get the story. The constant follow-up with sources. The tight deadlines. But the more I tried to pivot away from journalism, the more my curiosity and passion for people’s stories kept leading me back to it. The thrill of a heartfelt interview and gripping story has brought me so much joy. Additionally, through photojournalism, I have had the priviledge of capturing remarkable moments to add visuals to my writing. 

After graduating with a journalism degree from the University of Florida (Go Gators! Sorry to all the Bulldogs reading this..), I moved to New York City to delve into the world of magazines. I spent the first four years of my career immersed in health and wellness content working in the international department for Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Runner’s World and Bicycling, among other brands. I wrote a few stories for Runner’s World about the transformative impact that running can have. An unforgettable assignment was taking a four-day trip to Moscow, running my first marathon, and writing about the Russian running culture.

In Denver, I worked in video content marketing before landing a job at Denver Rescue Mission, where I photographed people experiencing homelessness and wrote very raw, very sensitive stories of the reality of living on the streets. Most of those stories ended in redemption, thanks to generous donors, resilient staff and selfless volunteers, but not all. Some of the people I interviewed and photographed are probably still on the streets, and this harsh reality is part of the reason why storytelling is so essential. It broadens our perspectives and puts us in the shoes–the worn out, the sturdy, the versatile, the durable, the ornate, the enduring– shoes of others.

I recently moved to the Georgia countryside with my husband, daughter, son, and pup, and I look forward to exploring the Peach State and writing some interesting stories along the way. Thanks for reading! Head to the contact page to tell me a bit about you, too. And if you have a story to share, I am all ears, always.

-Natanya