I am thrilled to be interning with The Chronicle this summer. I am excited to be part of staff and know that combining my background of Judaism with my passion for storytelling will give me many exciting opportunities.
A little bit about me: I am a Kansas City native and my parents are Dr. Mike and Staci Kahn, and I have three siblings, Kayla, Eli and Noah.
Journalism is a relatively new pursuit for me. I have always had a strong passion for animals and decided to pursue a degree in marine sciences. Being landlocked here in Kansas City, I knew I would need to attend college on a coast. After applying and getting accepted to several schools throughout the East and West Coasts, I chose Stony Brook University, located in Long Island, New York. However, after my first year there, I realized that I enjoyed marine sciences but was not fully interested in it.
Last summer, I decided to change my studies and pursue a degree in journalism. This past academic year showed me that I am more passionate about journalism, storytelling, and reporting than I was with marine sciences.
In the fall, I plan on transferring to the University of Kansas and will keep pursuing my bachelor’s of arts degree in journalism as a junior. The decision to leave Stony Brook was very difficult and bittersweet. However, the love and support in this decision from family and friends has been incredibly helpful and appreciated.
Outside of courses at Stony Brook, I was very active in Hillel and served as the secretary for the Jewish Student Association, a student-run club overseen by Hillel Staff. I also was involved with the university's paper, The Statesman, where I was a writer for the sports section. All my articles can be read at sbstatesman.com/author/jonah-khan. I enjoyed the experience of interviewing different athletes and coaches across the 11 sports the paper covered.
My other involvements included the all men’s a capella group on campus, the High C’s, and I served as an undergraduate college fellow. I helped freshmen get acclimated to campus, the resources on campus, and how to navigate their first semester and college experience by co-teaching a class that met once a week throughout the fall semester. I plan on participating in similar activities, including Hillel, at whichever school I choose.
Outside of college, I enjoy seeing and partaking in theater around Kansas City. This summer, I have returned back to Shawnee Mission Theatre in the Park for my third season in “Meet Me In St. Louis.”
In my free time, I enjoy time with my three dogs, hanging out with friends and listening to music.