From first picking up a Canon Rebel T7 in their junior year of high school to covering the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship, Sandra Fu’s journey has been remarkable.
Fu was once an ordinary high school student, unsure of their path, searching for their identity and passions just like many of their fellow classmates. Their journey into journalism began when they joined their school’s newspaper, The Huron Emery. It was there that they discovered the creative freedoms that come with journalism, especially in storytelling through writing and photography. From that moment on, Fu’s passion for photographic storytelling began to grow and it became a passion that continues to define their work today.
Now the former MIPA camper is a student at The Ohio State University, Fu holds the position of photo editor for The Lantern, the university’s newspaper. As one of the publication’s lead photographers, they regularly cover nearly every Ohio State sport, along with major events both on campus and across the Columbus community. Most notably, Fu had the opportunity to follow the Buckeyes football team during their historic run to the national title in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff.
Their lens has captured more than just sports. Fu has documented many emotionally powerful moments throughout the Buckeye community and the surrounding Columbus community, such as tributes to late Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau, as well as political rallies and other impactful events. The doors that have opened for them now may seem endless but their path didn’t start that way.
Back in high school, Fu’s access to major events was understandably limited. But through their work with The Huron Emery, they gained valuable experience photographing local sports games like their high school’s hockey, soccer, basketball, and football. They also captured important school traditions, such as “Multi-Culti,” a cultural celebration that brought students and stories to life. It was in these early moments that Fu found their rhythm, igniting a love for journalism and photography that has only grown stronger with time.
While Fu’s assignments now include covering larger scaled events that attract a lot more attention, it’s the quieter, unexpected, and more meaningful moments that have shaped their journey in ways they never anticipated. For example, at the University of Michigan versus Ohio State University football game in 2024, Fu was caught in the middle of conflict with players towering over them surrounding them. Fu pushed through, trusting their instincts and tried to get some good clear shots of the conflict. Even when they were accidentally pepper-sprayed while taking pictures, Fu learned that each uncomfortable moment was an opportunity to grow and improve.
Fu has also learned the importance of collaboration. As a photo editor, they work closely with other editors and reporters, realizing that communication is key in creating compelling, accurate stories.
“Everything goes hand in hand in a student paper,” they said. “Collaboration is one of the most important things in communication.”
Looking ahead, Fu is uncertain about their future, but the journey they’ve been on has provided them good insight about one thing, their passion for photojournalism is here to stay. For Fu, the future is wide open and every decision, every photo, is another step in a journey shaped by the experiences they embrace along the way. Their story is a reminder that growth does not always happen in the biggest moments.
“I still have two more years of college, and my story is still unwritten,” they said. “It scares me and excites me, but also comforts me.”