Open to pupils from Year 9 and above, this exciting talk and Q&A session offered a unique opportunity to understand the path of pursuing a career in journalism and politics. Currently a Washington, D.C.-based reporter for NBC, Raquel made history at Harvard University as the first Hispanic President of The Harvard Crimson, America’s oldest daily university newspaper. Since graduating in 2024, she has worked at NBC News following successful internships with their digital and social media teams.
Born in Colombia to two journalists, Raquel fell in love with the profession after seeing her parents in action as newscasters. She shared that stepping into the newsroom at Harvard, truly ignited that passion, and she aims to continue as a journalist for as long as possible, with the short term goal of following the 2028 campaign trail.
During the session, Raquel answered a wide variety of questions from our girls, demonstrating their intellectual curiosity, on everything from famous figures she’s met (notably Caroline Leavitt and Snoop Dogg) to the skills needed to succeed. She spoke candidly on the adrenaline of her role, and her love for the fast pace, as well as the necessity of being a life long learner, regularly having to learn new topics at speed. She also shared her journey from being a ‘nosy kid’ to a professional who asks questions daily. Furthermore, she noted how her ability to speak multiple languages has opened many doors for her, often providing opportunities that would otherwise be reserved for her more senior counterparts.
A particularly resonant point for our pupils was Raquel’s discussion on checking a source’s validity. As our Socrates, Upper School Diploma, and EPQ programmes rely heavily on robust research, it was fascinating to hear how Raquel uses a minimum of three sources to corroborate every story.
To close, she shared her top tips for a career in the media: read anything and everything you can, to improve your writing and stay current, but above all, to stay curious. A resonate message for our girls, mirroring our key ethos.