Fashion

Journey of a Young Kid's DREAM:

Five Years of VC

ABOUT ME

JOURNALIST. PODCASTER. PUBLIC RELATIONS PROFESSIONAL.

As a young high school student, I decided to pursue a dream during my freshman year in high school. I combined my love for writing and sports by starting my own website, Vikings Corner. I wanted to gain experience at a young age because I had one vision in mind: to work in sports. I poured all of my energy, passion and confidence into this goal. I reached out to mentors, conducted informational meetings and focused on growing as a writer. After about a year of running my website, people wanted more content. I made it bigger, applied for a business license and Vikings Corner grew to a level I never anticipated. The website has become one of the top Minnesota Vikings blogs currently on the web. With more than 12,700 Twitter followers and a steady readership, I have connected with passionate fans across the globe.

I also gained valuable experience while partnering with the likes of ESPN, Priority Sports, and many others for specific projects. Vikings Corner is nearly nine years old and has become more than just a website -- it is a community. There is nothing I enjoy more than connecting with fans and teaching them about the game I love. Throughout this journey, I have spent time reaching out to coaches, reading books and studying the game to provide the best content for fans everywhere. All of the hard work has led me to many unique opportunities. In February 2018, Vikings Corner was credentialed to cover Super Bowl 52 in Minneapolis. I had the opportunity to produce features and posted a game story after the world's biggest sporting event. In between, I have covered hundreds of NFL and college sporting events, including the NCAA Basketball Tournament and Final Four.

In May 2019, I graduated from the University of Minnesota's Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication with a degree in professional journalism. Attending the University of Minnesota provided me with many opportunities to continue gaining experience in the Big Ten. I covered Minnesota Golden Gopher football and men’s basketball for Skor North (1500ESPN) and GopherHole.com. I was responsible for providing written content and analysis of the Gopher football team across Hubbard Broadcasting digital platforms. This included: features, film reviews, news articles and podcasts. Additionally, in high school, I produced weekly fantasy football rankings for my mentor, Paul Charchian, at LeagueSafe.com.

Then, shortly after I graduated from college, the global pandemic hit our world. When the sports industry came to a halt, I found new ways to keep growing and learning. In July 2020, I launched GophersGuru.com, a subscription-based website covering University of Minnesota athletics. I developed a new content model and used a paywall platform to monetize my content. The experience of creating a new business model was extremely valuable. Throughout the process, I learned new content, social media and marketing techniques. Those skills and unique ideas are something I can bring to an organization in the future. Not to mention, while launching the new business, I started working for the Minnesota Chapter of the National Football Foundation. As the Director of Media Relations and Content, I am responsible for press releases, social media, written content, media relations and event logistics for the Minnesota Football Honors show. That specific role helped me gain a variety of different skills within the public relations side of the business.

In the future, I hope to continue sharing stories with the world. There is nothing more rewarding than crafting a valuable profile on an athlete, coach, or fan. At 24 years old, I have written feature stories, covered events and walked the sidelines during many high-profile games. I continue to work hard at developing my craft, while learning new ways to create compelling content across platforms. Football has been a passion of mine since elementary school. From serving as a ball boy for eight years in elementary and middle school, to spending thousands of hours watching film and practices, I have developed a burning desire for this game.

I can say without a doubt: I want to make it my future career.