closing
The role of journalism in my life has been nothing short of extraordinary. I am a product of every single interview I conducted, person I met, story I collected, photograph I made, and border I explored.
this Iraqi girl sells fruits by the Syria border to pay for her family’s living expenses
As you now know, I was driven by a need to discover the truth amidst global and internal conflict when, over the last five years, I traveled along seven world borders, which are represented in my body of work. Through this cohesive Beyond Borders portfolio, I aim to evoke perspective, empathy, and an understanding of the complexities these webs of culture, people, governments, religion, and geography embody. To this end, these images tell the story of these borders, simultaneously highlighting their beauty while exposing their harsh, often unseen realities. Borders divide people. As such, I advocate for the human condition. The world is not black and white. I strive to reveal the gray.
…I feel as if all of our stories are one and the same
When I engage in journalism, I feel as if all of our stories are one and the same. I feel this sincere connection with the world and people around me—a connection that drives me to break the borders between us, dive beyond what divides us and examine the binding thread that holds us together. So I really do buy into this idea that we live the stories that we tell and are told. The way I see it, this is why I’ve continued to pursue journalism: to feel the thrill of connection as I work to strengthen the bonds of the world.
At its core, this is what journalism is all about: the fastening of connection.
The breaking of borders.