ROCKINGHAM — Gael Onesto, a senior at Richmond Senior High School, is the new intern for the Richmond Observer.
Onesto has lived in North Carolina and stayed in Richmond County for his entire life — however, he considers moving away when the right opportunity comes.
“This town has its perks, but change is necessary,” Onesto said, “which is (one reason) why I’m interning here — to know more about Richmond before I get the opportunity to leave.”
Onesto’s interest in journalism started when he joined a journalism class without knowing he picked that elective.
When he first read the manual for the Nikon cameras used in the class, Onesto believed that he would not be fit to take pictures.
Yet, when asked if he wanted to take photos of football, he said yes — reluctantly.
“It was a very nerve-wracking experience … I considered not even going because of my anxiety,” he said, “but by the time I got my camera, there was this sense of relief — it gave me a reason to be there.”
Since then, he has become the main photographer for sports in the class and other events, as well as taking photos for Beta Club.
However, as time went on, he started to lose interest in taking pictures of sports. So, as a way to become a better photographer, he decided to intern with the Richmond Observer to pursue a career in photography.
“We look forward to helping Gael build his skills and learn more about the news business,” said William R. Toler, managing editor of the Richmond Observer.
