On Assignment: Puerto Rico

Working on months-long projects in journalism can be fun, but what’s really fun is when you get to experience your topic outside of the classroom, up close and personal. For my senior capstone project at UGA, we were tasked with pitching a project focused on the arts. I don’t remember exactly how I came up with this idea, but I do remember being captivated by the people in Puerto Rico, who at the time were still enduring the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. In March 2018, I actually got to visit Puerto Rico on a trip with my college ministry. I could have researched till I was blue in the face (and I did), but nothing could beat the feeling of Puerto Rican sand beneath my feet or seeing the sweet smiles of the people who lived there.

My final senior capstone, linked here, resulted in two parts:

Six Months Later: A Look at Puerto Rico’s Art Culture After Hurricane Maria

Spelling it Out: A Closer Look at Nora Rodríguez-Vallés’ Influence on Artists in Puerto Rico

And below are a few of my favorite photos from the trip:

Let’s just say there was a lot of bushwhacking on this trip…