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Up and coming reporter, Zarria Mccall, joins The Lowndes Signal newsroom as its latest addition — a high school summer intern. Her roots are in White Hall, a small, rural town located in Lowndes County.

Greenville Newspapers Regional Editor Lanell Downs Smith described the excitement with which the newsroom welcomes McCall to its team.

“We count it an honor to work with Zarria and assist her as she explores her creative talents,” Smith said. “We value the ability to cover the people, places and events which are important to our readers. Her deep knowledge and connection with Lowndes County enable her to highlight the area with the eye of a ‘local’ and give voice to our younger citizens.”

McCall is an honor student at Central High School in Hayneville, home of the Lions, where she is also an active member of the student body, with leadership positions in various organizations including Junior Officers Training Corps (JROTC), Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Future Farmers of America (FFA). 

“Being active in my school life has allowed me to experience so many things,” McCall said. “I wouldn’t be where I am if it weren’t for the things I have learned as a result of being a part of these organizations.”

Alongside excelling in leadership roles works hard to achieve academic excellence. 

“Academics are just as, if not more, important than extracurricular organizations,” she said. “I strive to maintain both aspects of my school life.”

Central High School Principal Archie Curtis described McCall as a type of “old soul,” someone who carries herself differently than the average high school student.

“Zarria is a very conscientious young lady.” Curtis said. “She’s a great student. She excelled in the writing portion of the Act this year, so I knew she had the potential to be a great writer.”

In her spare time McCall enjoys reading, writing, passive research and learning new skills. 

“I like to dabble in a lot of different things,” she said. “Recently I’ve been trying to teach myself to sew.”

After graduating high school, McCall plans to pursue a degree in computer science with a minor in graphic design although she is still considering college options. Her long-term goal is to become a software engineer. 

“Getting a job in tech will enable me to work remotely while still receiving a decent salary. I’ll be able to focus on other passions of mine,” she said.

When asked about her inspiration in the summer internship opportunity, McCall said she is excited to nurture her passion for reporting this summer. 

“Growing up as a weird, queer, Black, woman in Alabama I haven’t seen many stories that reflect my experiences. I want to give a voice to all of the people that don’t have one.”

Smith described the internship as an opportunity to cultivate a love for writing among Lowndes County’s student scholars.

“We have long desired to work with our students, to help them hone their craft while inspiring the next generation of community news reporters,” Smith said. “Excited doesn’t even begin to describe how happy we are to have Zarria on our staff this summer.”