Hannah may not have known it, but she is a reason for who I am today. I interned for KUNM for a semester in 2018; one of the hardest times of my life. Unfortunately, leaving journalism was on my mind a lot. Hannah took me with her to stream a public health meeting, which itself wasn’t overly memorable. But it’s the moments in between when Hannah really left her mark. As we talked about all things life, she encouraged me to only do things that serve me. Adding that while she is in love with the news, it isn’t a dishonorable thing to leave. Reiterating that there are always other ways to make an impact. She encouraged me in a way so honest that I believed in myself for the first time in a while. Her energy was magnetic. I wish she knew in that period of my life her words, however small, made a difference to me. I took her advice to heart and followed. This speaks volumes to her character and how impactful her life was, and still is. I send all of my love to her family, friends and colleagues, which to her were all synonymous. Hug everyone a little tighter.
