A life of stories: Who I am beyond the byline

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that life rarely follows a straight path. I’ve worn many hats—telemarketer, cleaning supervisor, caregiver, waitress, restaurant manager, stay-at-home mom, author, reporter, and now, the assistant editor of Rockton-Roscoe News.

Each role taught me something, shaped me in ways I didn’t expect, and led me to who I am today. But if you strip away the titles, what remains is simple:

I’m a storyteller, a listener, and someone who cares deeply about people and their stories.

Why I’m writing this

Our editor, Michael McGinnis, sends us a newsroom update every month—a mix of story ideas, training opportunities, and upcoming events. It’s a reminder that journalism isn’t just about reporting the news—it’s about growing as a writer, sharpening our craft, and making sure we’re giving our readers what they genuinely care about.

One request stood out this month: Our readers want to know more about us.

That got me thinking.

It’s easy to write about other people—to highlight their journeys, struggles, and victories. But turning the focus inward, sharing who I am with the same honesty I ask from others—that’s something deeper.

It’s not just about my job as a journalist. It’s about why I do what I do, what I believe in, and why local stories—our stories—matter.

Where I come from

I spent the first 25 years of my life in Granite City, Illinois- a small industrial city with a long history in steel manufacturing, just across the McKinley Bridge from St. Louis, Missouri.

If you’re from Madison County—or anywhere nearby—you understand that when someone asks where we’re from, we usually just say, “St. Louis.” It’s not because we don’t love where we grew up, but because if we say, “Illinois,” people assume we mean Chicago—which is nearly five hours north and might as well be another world.

Our family spent a year in Opelika, Alabama before my husband’s job took us back to Illinois, this time up North, in March 2014—straight into what I could only describe as a blizzard.

Roscoe, Illinois became home. It’s where my husband and I continue to raise our family, where we’ve built our lives, and where I eventually found my way back to doing what I love most—writing.

How I found Rockton-Roscoe News

I didn’t find Rockton-Roscoe News because I was looking for a job. I found it because my family was part of the news.

In 2021, not long after this small hyperlocal news outlet began, my father, Kerry Dioneda, was killed in a motorcycle accident on Gleasman Road.

When it came time to write his obituary—a task that feels impossible when you’re still reeling from such a sudden and tragic loss—I found myself Googling his name, trying to remember the exact degree he had earned. Instead of his résumé, what popped up was something I never expected: a tribute article about him.

I clicked, I read, and for a moment, I wondered, How does this reporter know more about my father than I do?

Then I just felt grateful.

It was the best article I had ever read—not just because it was about my dad, but because of the level of care, respect, and professionalism that went into it. It wasn’t just an obituary. It was a story about who he was, what he loved, and how deeply he was loved.

At a time when my world was completely shaken, Rockton-Roscoe News gave me something I didn’t even know I needed.

And now, a few years later, I get to be part of that same news outlet.

Writing was always the dream

I’ve always wanted to write. From a young age, storytelling felt natural to me—like something I was meant to do. But life has a way of shifting priorities.

Bills needed to be paid. Responsibilities stacked up. Life took me where I was needed—into restaurants, managing schedules, leading teams, cleaning businesses, and, for many years, simply raising my children.

Writing never left me, but for a while, it had to wait.

That changed in 2022 when I finally published my first children’s book, The World’s Next Greatest Book. It was a project that was inspired by my late father, but in many ways, it was also about reclaiming a part of myself that had been set aside for too long.

Not long after my book release, Rockton-Roscoe News’s senior correspondent, Jean Seegers, contacted me for an interview about my book. 

She opened the door for me to join their world of writing for our community, I gratefully stepped through, and I began writing for Rockton-Roscoe News.  I realized that telling stories—whether for children or for an entire community—was what I was always meant to do.

The gift of growth

One of the things I’m most grateful for in this journey is the opportunity to hone my craft. Writing for Rockton-Roscoe News isn’t just about getting articles out—it’s about learning, growing, and becoming a better storyteller.

Our monthly newsroom updates don’t just give us assignments. They give us opportunities to improve—from journalism training resources to press association conferences, editorial guidance, and deep-dive storytelling workshops.

I’ve had the chance to sharpen my interviewing skills, refine my approach to research, and think critically about the role of journalism in a community. Whether it’s solutions journalism, learning to ask better questions, or exploring ethical reporting, I’m always learning something new.

This isn’t just a job—it’s a craft. And I’m thankful every day for the chance to refine it.

Why I do this work

Local news isn’t just about reporting the facts. It’s about showing up—for people, for the moments that matter, for the conversations that shape our community. It’s about sitting in village meetings for the residents that can’t make them, breaking down complex issues, and making sure stories don’t go untold.

It’s about fairness and honesty. I don’t believe in twisting a story to fit a narrative. I believe in listening—to all sides, to different perspectives, to the voices that don’t always get heard.

It’s about hard work and heart. Journalism isn’t glamorous. It’s late nights, unanswered emails, and chasing details. But it’s also knowing that the work matters, that someone out there is reading, learning, and possibly even making decisions because of the words I put on a page.

It’s about people. Everyone has a story—some are loud and obvious, others are quiet and overlooked. But they all matter.

Why sharing our story matters

When I first read that article about my dad, I wasn’t a reporter yet. I was a grieving daughter, grateful that someone had taken the time to tell his story well.

I now have the privilege of helping others in the same way. I put in a lot of effort to do it well. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of a loving and welcoming community that consistently comes together to support residents in times of need. I have seen this happen time and time again.

So, if you’ve ever read something I’ve written—thank you. And if you ever have a story to share, I’d love to hear it. Because in the end, we’re all just trying to make sense of our own stories, and I’m grateful every day that I get to be a part of telling them.

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. -Albert Schweitzer