By Ben AustinCecille Avila fits the mold of a convergence journalism reporter.
Avila, a 19-year-old Arlington, Massachusetts native, is a photography lover with a dash of insomnia who has a knack for blogging and graphic design and believes that it is possible to have a meaningful conversation with anyone. Add that to a natural addiction to news and you've got the recipe for the journalist of the future.
"I've always loved reading the news because I viewed it as a story that never finished," explained Avila, who maintains her own cooking blog. "I want to inform and educate people, and use writing in a proactive way."
Though her life now revolves around writing and photography, Avila's childhood love was the violin. Growing up, her hope was to become a professional musician. In high school her love for music led her to theater and the performing arts community. This was the outlet she used to meet most of her high school friends and showcase her individuality.
"Cecille is very much herself," said Julia Rocha, a high school friend. "She's not afraid to be herself all the time, which is refreshing for me."
Now, as a print journalism and marketing major at Emerson College, Avila maintains that sense of individualism that drove her through high school. Her paintings, polaroids and christmas lights dangle from the walls of her excessively organized dorm room. Her blog is cluttered with photos of her travels, daily life, and most prominently chocolate chip cookies and assorted cakes she baked herself.
Avila openly admits she is very easily distracted and finds herself constantly leaping through short-lived phases of interest.
"I'm kind of all over the place," she admits. "I'll like something for a short period of time and then two weeks later I'll move on to something else."
Much like the journalism industry, Avila is at a crossroads, unsure about the exact details of her future. Even so, Avila insists that she now has dreams of combining her obsession with photography and her lust for travel to work or intern for National Geographic, a starkly different path than her childhood dream of becoming a famous violinist.
"She definitely came a long way from the time she was really young to where she is now," said Mary Avila, her 24-year-old sister.
