One of AAJA Seattle’s newest members shares her story

By Ava Van

“If you could dream it, you could do it.” -Walt Disney

It seems too good to be true, but trust me: it could happen to anyone if you truly believe in it. Growing up, I was a little less fortunate than others, but I’m okay with that because it shaped me into the person I am today. My experiences made me appreciate life more; but more importantly, it made me realize how essential it was to love others, which was where I discovered my passion of serving others through my community.

I want to be a news reporter because I want to dedicate my life to helping people with their daily lives through my stories; I want to make a positive difference in the world and AAJA Seattle gave me that chance. It still amazes me that the very first AAJA event that I ever went to landed me an internship with a local newspaper, the Northwest Asian Weekly and the second event gave me an interview with KOMO 4 News after I met Gerald Patriarca, who I now consider my mentor. I came with nothing but high hopes of making my dreams a reality and the AAJA Seattle officers furnished me with the strong foundation to get me started.

AAJA Seattle is the place you want to turn to if you want to pursue your career in journalism. This outstanding association has committed officers who are ready to provide the experience and resources you need to bring your dreams into reality. My advice to any aspiring journalist is to take advantage of opportunities like this—you won’t regret it. Take a step forward towards your dreams today, because “If you could dream it, you could do it.”

Ava Van is a student at Seattle Pacific University. She hopes to pursue a career in broadcast journalism.