Milford Daily News
01.
FOXBOROUGH — The whistles were loud. The sun was hot. Fans turned the programs intheir hands into, well, fans.
Those were a few signals that New England Patriots training camp was back at GilletteStadium the past two weeks.
02.
After Joe Drugan ’s wife, Andrea, stepped down from coaching field hockey at Hopedale High in 1993, the longtime coach sprung an impromptu challenge on her husband during his 50thbirthday party a year later.
While investigating journalism opportunities for the summer 2022, the idea of reaching out to the MetroWest and Milford Daily News came to mind. Having connected with writers and editors of the Milford Daily News through an article in which I was featured, I had a sense for the publication.
Thankfully, the paper was in need of fresh stories during the summer months. The outlet was preparing to address the annual problem of lacking sports content as little to no high school or collegiate sports were played from June to August.
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I took this opportunity and need for content as a challenge to find stories for myself. And I had an absolute blast doing it.
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This led me to incredible places. I was a credentialed member of the press for the entirety of New England Patriots’ 2022 Training Camp and their two preseason games. Additionally, I utilized my standing to report on a local charitable fundraiser that’s community impact was going unseen beforehand.
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My growth as a journalist to this point would not be possible without the MetroWest and Milford Daily News editors. Their patience editing my work taught me how editors show leadership by their genuine interest in educating writers. I’ve used that same mindset editing pieces for Pantherbook staff members. Whenever live editing a high schooler’s writing, I hope to teach them at least one new writing strategy that’s applicable to their next story, regardless if I’m editing their first piece or one hundredth.