The journey to finding camaraderie, success and purpose is often unexpected. Gabe Kanae (he/they) was born and raised in Reno. A creative at heart, Kanae originally thought he wanted to branch out of the area and study filmmaking in southern Nevada. However, after being accepted to a film program at UNLV, Kanae ultimately ended up deciding to stay in Reno, becoming a journalism student at the Reynolds School of Journalism at the University of Nevada, Reno.

An individual with many interests and talents, Kanae found abundant opportunities at the University to express their creativity as a multifaceted content creator. They describe the Reynolds School as the "perfect middle ground," offering a supportive environment that facilitates personal growth and career development while allowing them to explore diverse opportunities.

“Journalism is uniquely fascinating because it is an artistic medium that asks creators, storytellers and writers to ethically challenge their biases [both cognitively and socially] before creating each piece."

“Journalism is uniquely fascinating because it is an artistic medium that asks creators, storytellers and writers to ethically challenge their biases [both cognitively and socially] before creating each piece,” Kanae said.

Like many students, Kanae has faced imposter syndrome – that feeling that you’re out of your element. A combination of journalism peers, professors and programs helped Kanae work through those feelings and find their Pack.

Finding an internship

One of those professors, Claudia Cruz in the Reynolds School of Journalism, played a key role in Kanae finding an internship. Cruz believed in Kanae and through that support, Kanae applied and got an internship with PBS.

During his internship, Kanae got real-world experience, putting his journalism education to work with video editing, podcast production and social media campaigns. 

“It was pretty seamless for me, just a station tour at PBS and a conversation went a long way,” he said. “For students looking for an internship, focus on building connections with people in the specific areas you want to work in, keep an eye out for any emails you will receive and always apply to opportunities that seem intriguing to you and fit your routine/schedules, even if you think you may be rejected!”

Lighting up in the City of Lights

New sounds, sights, people and experiences awaited Kanae as they traveled for the first time internationally as part of a Reynolds School trip to Paris, France. The group of J-School students studied and practiced international journalism during the Olympics.

During the trip, Kanae learned how resilient he is — adapting his routines, getting out of his comfort zone, navigating a foreign country with OCD, communicating without speaking French, and keeping up with international media during a global event.

“International media was unique to observe because everyone has a conglomeration of different skills, workflows, processes and styles. Since this was a global event, there was a lot to keep up with and attempt to stay informed on, but I think that experience is only something you can find at an event like the Olympics,” they said.

The experiences and lessons from that transformational trip are something that Kanae will one day apply to a long-term career.

“A public narrative is crafted from limited, volatile information. Resilience is crafted by experiencing discomfort and learning from it,” they said.

Managing mental health and flourishing with a Pack

One of the greatest sources of happiness for Kanae at the University has been the friendships he’s formed. Social connections and creative collaboration with peers who appreciate his music, photography and writing have been meaningful and healing.

Kanae is open about his experiences with OCD, which once made daily interactions extremely difficult.

“OCD is a really misunderstood condition in my experience,” he said. “There are many different ways that it can take form, and it is a struggle every single day. It definitely bleeds into how I study or learn in classes, how impactful grief can be and how I socialize.”

Kanae credits both working with his therapist and being at Nevada in helping alleviate some of his symptoms.

“While I'm not exactly sure why a lot of the contamination OCD I experience went away, I like to think it was due to a mixture of changing my environment and also utilizing skills from exposure therapy treatment that came up frequently and naturally. My OCD definitely exists today, but it impacts me more mentally than physically,” he said.

Ready for the future

While Kanae didn’t originally plan to stay in Reno, he’s glad that he did. He’ll carry the confidence, camaraderie, creativity and connections that he’s built at Nevada with him into his future in journalism – telling impactful stories as he pushes himself in new ways.

About Find Your Pack

“Find Your Pack” is a video series that highlights real students at the University of Nevada, Reno as they explore their passions, overcome challenges and discover who they are. From student-athletes to researchers, artists to engineers, each story showcases the diverse paths students take — and the supportive community that helps them thrive.