June 4, 2026
In eighth grade, my English teacher, Mrs. Maloupis, asked if anyone wanted to join LHS’ journalism program. When she mentioned that The Lighthouse was looking for photographers, my hand shot up, as I was eager to use the professional camera I had been gifted for Christmas.
When I started high school, I was challenged by the workload of my classes and extracurriculars, all while trying to master a camera with countless settings that seemed impossible to understand.
As a freshman on The Lighthouse staff, I was constantly missing the perfect shot. I never timed my photos correctly. I needed to be less impulsive as a photographer and as a person.
Little did I know that the lessons I learned taking photos would help me appreciate life.
Nonetheless, I took a few good photos that made it into the newspaper. It brought me joy to see my name in the credit line, so I kept taking pictures for The Lighthouse as a sophomore and junior, even though journalism didn’t fit into my schedule.
Since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to be wherever something spectacular was taking place. Little did I know that the lessons I learned taking photos would help me appreciate life. Every second is precious, and every photo is a memory. Collaged, they create a story that articles alone can’t capture.
In the fall, I’ll be attending Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, where I’ll major in mathematics in the Lawrence T. Babbio ‘66 Pinnacle Scholars Program. There, I’ll continue to appreciate small moments and tell stories through my photography. I urge readers to do the same, as in the absence of words, there is always art.
