Most high school and college age individuals spend years in various classes, clubs, organizations, and advising offices trying to decide on a career path or even a field of interest. However, some lucky students discover their passion on their own early-on. Central graduate Jurnee Taylor is one of these few.

Taylor is a graduate of the University of Memphis with a degree in journalism;  She has studied abroad at the University of Mainz Journalism School in Germany. She has reported for the University of Memphis Daily Helmsman and is President of the UofM chapter of National Association of Black Journalists. Taylor now works as a News Content Specialist for WMC Action News 5.

“News is always happening. Journalism is an everyday evolving job. You have to be prepared for anything. So yes, the field of journalism will continue to be important, because we are historians. We have to tell the story of today,” Taylor said.

As a student at Central, Taylor joined The Tiger as a writer her junior year and became co-head feature editor her senior year. Being a part of this group helped her love for journalism grow, as she was able to work on her own projects. She knew journalism was a good fit for for her because it gave her the opportunity to connect and share stories.

“I decided to become a journalist after my journalism teacher Ms. Holiman gave me the opportunity to start my own YouTube series called: ‘Jurnee Through Central.’ Although, it is cringeworthy now, it truly started my love for telling stories then,” Taylor said.

Although writing and reporting makes up most of her career, Taylor is a multifaceted woman with many interests and hobbies. She loves to travel, watch Cops, fly drones, participate with her sorority (Alpha Kappa Alpha; AKA), and cater to her pet turtle, “Panny B.”

Taylor said she lives by the words, “If it won’t matter in five years, don’t spend more than five minutes on it.”

Fast paced, hard-working, intelligent, and beautiful inside and out, Jurnee Taylor is one extremely unstoppable force.