My name is Ayla DiBattista and I’m a senior at Springfield Township High School. Ever since I was little, I loved to write. I have notebooks upon notebooks filled with stories I made up or reportings of the world around me. I was also a voracious reader and thoroughly enjoyed learning new words and how to better describe the world.

It was only natural that in high school, I joined the school paper. The Chronicle gave me the opportunity to write outside of class, which I loved. I took every chance I could to write about different areas of the school and appreciated getting to know my high school on a deeper level. 

In my junior year, I was made Junior Editor-in-Chief and I loved being able to organize the paper and help guide younger members. My favorite part was conducting the brainstorming sessions and hearing everyone's ideas. This past year was especially unique as we shifted into a shorter publishing cycle, so we could be more prolific and I enjoyed the new challenge. During this year, I will serve as Senior Editor-in-chief and I look forward to all the challenges and surprises this will bring. 

In addition to my role with the Chronicle, I will also lead the Youth and Government Club as President, participate in the Book Club and volunteer as an assistant coach for Reading Olympics at our Elementary School. I am also one of the Tennis team’s captains, a peer tutor, a Unified Bocce player, and a member of the Music Honors Society and National Honors Society. Prior to this internship, I’ve also shadowed Judge McGill at the Magisterial Court in Springfield and aided a local candidate’s campaign, which resulted in her winning a seat as a State Representative. 

In my free time, which seems to be less and less every day, I enjoy baking, hiking, biking, and of course, reading. I also love traveling and even participated in a study abroad in Spain last summer for a few weeks. 

After almost three years of writing on the paper, I jumped at the chance to intern with the Chestnut Hill Local. I’ve enjoyed every role that I’ve had on the paper, but I’m looking forward to broadening my experiences and skills. At the Local, my role will entail attending the Springfield Township Board of Commissioners meetings and reporting on agenda items and any big events or changes taking place. I’m thoroughly looking forward to serving my community through this internship.

I’m hoping that through this internship, I will gain a better awareness of local politics and decision-making, which may help my future studies and pursuits. Experiences like these have already helped guide me toward a career path of study and I am thankful for this fantastic opportunity to get real-world experience as I look to college and beyond.