I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself to The Clarkston News readers. My name is Brianna Hayes and I am the summer intern at our local paper.
I have lived in Clarkston since elementary school, attending Sashabaw Middle School, Clarkston Junior High, and Clarkston High School, class of 2017. During my time at CHS, I was a member of the Varsity Girls Swim and Dive team and the stats manager for the wrestling team all four years.
I also had a hand in creating the yearbook my junior year. The experience helped me find my passion for photography and writing.
I graduated a semester early and started taking college credits at Oakland Community College. In the fall of 2017, I moved to Allendale, Mich., and began my freshman year at Grand Valley State University. I will graduate in December 2020 with a Bachelors’ Degree in Multimedia Journalism. My time at GVSU has only reinforced my desire to become a journalist; specifically, a travel journalist.
I am extremely grateful for The Clarkston News as the COVID pandemic has played havoc on the plans of many of my peers with very limited internships available.
The Clarkston News has worked with me to get the experience I need for my future career, and I am very fortunate to have been given this opportunity. I will not forget the excitement I had seeing my name in the paper as the author of my first article. Since then, I have had several more published, and each time it has been a thrill and sense of accomplishment.
After I graduate (and COVID permitting), I plan to become a travel photojournalist. I intend to travel the world and write about the people I meet and the places I visit. I want to provide insight into different cultures and beliefs. The world is huge, and I want to experience as much as possible. That said, it will always be a joy to come back to my hometown of Clarkston, with the comfort and familiarity that it has given me throughout my life.
I would like to thank The Clarkston News for giving me this opportunity and the readers who have provided feedback on my articles. It has been a pleasure!

— Brianna Hayes