How do two active duty soldiers have time to start a business? My editor sent me out with that question in mind, and this is the article result. It is more of a straightforward feature.

This feature was a lesson in editing because I wanted to include one personal story and two expert sources speaking to parents of both small and teenage children in about 800 words. It was a lot of work, but the end result packs a punch!

This feature went beyond my usual military scope. I was tasked with getting the scoop on a new mural. In reporting this story, in the last three minutes of the interview, I asked about the name and was glad I did! This is what helped answer the “So what?” question and led to the “peace and harmony” angle.

The subject for this column was “downtown” + “military,” and the rest was up to me. I decided to walk downtown in search of serendipity. I found details and inspiration in places I didn’t expect. I took a more artistic approach to this column.

I kept it simple with this column, creating a listicle of positive gratitudes to interrupt the sometimes-daunting days of military life. It is one of the most popular columns.

The issue theme? Love. My subject? Military. I wanted to go beyond typical military stories to find a more unique angle that would elevate different voices. Through much social media and online investigation, I found this couple. The wife was a Romanian military police service member, and the husband, a U.S. soldier. How did they meet?

I wrote one or two blogs per month or this company while at the agency Excel Creative for about two years. Most are still available. I learned how to repurpose educational assets into more content pieces and aligned this with the social strategy. Most of the blogs posted between 2022-2024 were written by me.

Part of this column was building a bridge between the military and civilian communities. This article sought to create understanding for military challenges for locals, while extending information about local resources to military families.

I wanted to elevate diverse voices within the column, and this was one effort to do that. In the interview, however, I had come in wanting to explain hard history to military families. The subject preferred to focus on the triumphs of the local African American community. One more instance of checking my bias in storytelling.

In writing my column week after week, I tried to consider the different types of readers. Some would want information, others stories. Some would want to be inspired, some would want cold, hard facts. This is a more artistic anti-resolution expression on the New Year.

Writing for a lifestyle publication, I had to walk the line of being honest about military issues, while providing a hopeful, community-enriching take. This is one example of how I showed honesty in my own experience while framing it within an empowering message.

In this story, I tried to connect my unique experience of learning to swim at 27 with common post-pandemic feelings. It was one of my first print publishing opportunities.