Hoping to improve the world by doing good, senior Mercedes Henwood uses social media to spread journalism while chasing her dream of going to med school. 

Henwood, born and raised in Alexandria, focuses mainly on dance and journalism.

“I started journalism at my school in sophomore year,” Henwood said. “I wrote a bit my first year, but my junior year I mostly focused on social media and promoting our newspaper through instagram reels.”

Although Henwood isn’t driven by her love of writing, she enjoys the fun of putting together the newspaper for West Potomac and feeling accomplished after finishing a journalism project.

“Some people at our school don’t really care but it’s fun because it still reaches a few,” Henwood said.  

Not only is Jcamp a way for Henwood to continue practicing journalism, but she’s also interested in making new friends and getting a feel of college life and living in a dorm. 

“This is my first college camp,” Henwood said. “I’m excited about meeting people I wouldn’t have met if I wasn’t here.

Planning to finish her senior year with journalism, she’s also been using dance as an outlet and plans on continuing with it throughout her last year of high school.

“My school’s dance team is huge and everyone is really friendly which makes dancing fun and inviting,” Henwood said.

Henwood has been dancing ballet for twelve years. After dancing and studying journalism, she aims to take a new turn by studying medicine.

“My mom was really into medical stuff, she went to med school but stopped because she had kids,” Henwood said.

Henwood’s passion and inspiration has been sparked by what her mom started, but her end goal is to spread love through her own nursing career.