As the days draw closer to the end to the month and with 2019 greeting us with the new year, I look back on where I was 365 days ago. I had already accepted my job here at the Post and Courier, a couple of weeks left in the midwest and another adventure for Whitaker. One, I am so grateful that I can’t express what it means to me to be here in Charleston. The fact that I get to do what I love in such a beautiful city and wonderful newspaper to work at is incredible. GUYS THIS IS SPECTACULAR! I came here without really knowing anything about the city or the state. Didn’t have any family, again, near me or a lot of friends. But have made a great group of friends I call my family. I absolutely love getting to know and being surrounded by these talented people.

Anyways, I came to Charleston in early January and it snowed my second day here! I was like WOW it actually snows here!!!! Seeing people being pulled on Christmas trees holding puppies and snow on Palmetto trees brought me so much joy! In all reality I knew that wasn’t a thing I’d see too often here. But once I started shooting I quickly fell in love with the way we as a photo team help each other out. Looking over each other’s takes, coming up with ideas and laughing so much in the photo cave that I have no clue how I got anything done.

Over my time here I got to see what it really is like to work deep on a project from start to finish with reporters, other photographers, editors and the digital team. From a look on the old George Stinney case from 1944, where Stinney, 14, was convicted of murdering two young white girls and was sent to be executed to be known as the youngest person sent to death in modern day United States. Conversion Therapy in South Carolina and the impact it has on young teenager’s mental health. Heirs’ property in the state and the struggle families have to go through to split up decades of family property passed down with today’s explosive growth in the low country.

Now that I feel like I really have a good base and home after just under a year of being here I want to start diving more into my community and hopefully my home the next several years to come! Thank you to the people of Charleston for making it such a great place to be at. Thank you to the photo staff and my coworkers for giving me a chance. Thank you to Matt Clough, Brooks Brunson, John Williams Brooker and Greg Yee for being my family here! Merry Christmas Y’all!