I was born and trained to tell stories, and my family history informs my identity and students I serve. My grandmother has always told her tales of her life in Pakistan, which involved ducking under fences to grab ripe mangos to being forced to flee her home and cross the border between India and Pakistan. As a Pakistani Muslim woman in a post 9/11 world, I identify with her struggle and resiliency. I believe it is my responsibility to highlight these voices in news outlets and media coverage.

 

I am committed to inclusive engagement, as evidenced through my work as a reporter for The Daily of the University of Washington, which allows me to share the stories of other underrepresented communities. In this role, I take nuanced research, personal interviews, and events and make their purpose accessible for any reader. One example that stands out is a feature I wrote about the Leadership Without Borders Office (LWB), a space that undocumented students with networking opportunities, study spaces, and resources like textbooks or scholarship information. When talking with students who work in this space, I identified with their struggle to fit within the bounds of newly defined borders. As a journalist, I had an opportunity to empower their voices.

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My goal for the article was to share an honest story that would foster a sense of empathy and resonate with any reader. For the story, I interviewed UW undocumented students, professionals at the Office of Minority and Diversity Affairs, and staff at the Ethnic Cultural Center who contribute to creating an inclusive community for these students. To ensure that my sources maintained ownership of the story’s narrative, I focused on using active listening and let the direct quotes capture their truth and resiliency. These sources revealed that being undocumented is often a hidden identity because undocumented individuals may fear judgment from their peers, repercussions from the law, and deportation at the hands of government officials. Their stories reminded me that journalism heavily influences people’s perceptions, and this story could allow the students to reclaim words that fit their realities. As a journalist, I hope to keep sharing stories like this, which is more important than ever in the current political climate.