As an avid writer, Shaliz has helped Laurel’s JustWrite competitive writing team to first place wins at the regional high school writing tournament for the last two years. She has also earned the 1st place regional poetry award for the last two years and is currently working on a book called “How to Hunt Witches”, a work of historical fantasy with common-day themes about marginalized communities. The book is something she has been working on as part of her Capstone Project, which she began her Sophomore year. 

In the article, Shaliz credits Laurel’s English Department with helping her to get where she is now with her writing. “I would not have gotten where I am without [Laurel’s] English Department and their advice and support of my writing,” she said. “I feel like I have so many ideas, and I want to get them out there in the world.”