Fresh off a visit to her aunt in Punta Cana, rising senior Naomi Thayer, 17, is ready to gain new experience in journalism here at JMU. Thayer has been taking photojournalism at Annandale High School ever since she and her friends agreed to try it at the beginning of her sophomore year, when in-person school started back up. She is unsure if she wants to continue journalism post-college, but looks up to her teacher in the subject, the well-known Mr. Alan Weintraut, an award-winning writer. Aside from journalism, Thayer used to play basketball for Annandale and stays active by going to the gym.
With an older brother, 19, who’s currently at GMU, she’s the youngest in her immediate family. Even so, Thayer never backs down from an opportunity. Now Annandale High’s photo editor, that title didn’t come easy. Amid the whiplash of returning to school in the building, Thayer stepped up to fill the shoes left behind by the previous photo editor, a senior who had graduated the year prior. On top of that, she balances school life with a job at Bertucci’s, a local Italian restaurant.
Even with her packed schedule, Thayer always finds the time to wind down. An avid Frank Ocean and jpegmafia fan, she also watches TV like Gilmore Girls. Finally, Thayer also enjoys hanging out with her friends just as much as the next person.