News has always played a big role in my life. Ever since I can remember, it has been a teacher and a constant companion.

When my mom came to the United States from Peru in 1988, she barely knew English. Determined to build a life in this country, she turned to one thing every single day.

The local news.

KTLA was her favorite station, and it became her classroom. She slowly began to learn the language of her new home. The rhythm of newscasts and the stories that made Los Angeles feel less foreign.

Mornings began with the news before school, and evenings ended with it on while my grandma cooked ceviche or papa a la huancaína, keeping Peru alive in our little kitchen in Covina.

For my mom, the news meant belonging. And for me, it started to mean opportunity.

I saw how much power these storytellers had to make their viewers feel seen. Meanwhile, my mom wasn’t just learning English, she was finding her place in this country, and the news was that bridge.

That’s when I realized that I wanted to be on the other side of the screen someday. To be that warm, familiar face for someone else.

And that is why I am a journalist today. Because I believe in the power of local news to connect, teach, and make a community feel like home.

I want to be a part of the same storytelling that once welcomed my mom and, in turn, shaped me.