#truhoodstudio

[truhoodstudio]

[truhoodstudio]

new work

[truhoodstudio]

“Built From the Grind: My Journey Toward Mastery”

“This is me — a creator shaped by pressure, sharpened by purpose, and committed to elevating every story I touch. My craft is my voice, and my voice is my legacy.”

As I close out this course, I’m standing in a space I didn’t imagine at the start. My original goal was simple: refine my skills, strengthen my Capstone, and grow as a multimedia journalist. But what happened here was bigger. This month didn’t just guide me — it stretched me, challenged me, and redefined the weight of my expectations.

This course demanded discipline, truth, and accountability. It pushed me through moments where I felt stuck, overwhelmed, or pulled in every direction — husband, father, educator, business owner, creator, student. But the grind shaped me. The pressure refined me. And the lessons forced me to level up not just in technique, but in identity.

I learned that journalism isn’t just about producing content. It’s about honoring the story, respecting the craft, and grounding everything in research, accuracy, and ethics. Using EBSCOhost, trade journals, and real scholarly sources opened my eyes to the larger context behind Hirsch Metropolitan High School’s decline and legacy. It elevated my Capstone from a passion project into a documented piece of Chicago history.

This work represents more than academic completion — it represents my evolution.

My voice.

My discipline.

My purpose.

This journal entry marks where I am, but not where I’m stopping. My journey toward mastery continues every day I choose to show up as a storyteller, a creator, and a man who refuses to settle for “good enough.”

Built from the grind.

Rooted in truth.

Committed to excellence.

Master of Arts New Media Journalism

A story told with Adobe Express