A spider crawling up my hand bit me and now I have radioactive spider powers. I’m swinging across the buildings of New York City. I’m saving people’s lives and I have a job working as a photographer for the biggest newspaper in the city. Is this a dream or is it reality? As an 8-year-old kid, it’s hard to differentiate between the two as far as I knew I was Spider-Man. 

As I grew up, I began to see my dream start to dwindle, I realized that I’d never be able to swing across buildings, and I wouldn’t ever be able to climb up walls. An unfortunate realization for any young person, it took me a while to accept this fate, but like life tends to do, it moves on and so did I.  

Although spider powers were something I knew I could never possess, I decided to take influence from the things I could do and the person I could be. Peter Parker/Spider-Man is a good person who never thinks of himself and always sees the good in people, that was something I wanted to be. He is also into photography and works for a big newspaper publication, and with hard work and dedication that could be a place I could reach in the future. 

Most importantly, he saves the lives of others. I couldn’t do that on a physical level, but if I could find my own way of doing so and luckily, I think I found that way.  

That way is through storytelling, whether it’s to inform, entertain, scare, persuade or inspire. It’s wide-reaching and can provide an outlet for those in need of it. If you’re having a bad day, a good story could possibly be that difference-maker. 

My dream of becoming Spider-Man, once thought to be reality turned into inspiration. A story about a young man getting bit by a bug and getting powers quite literally helped shape the person I am today and helped me decide on my future. 

It led me to photography and journalism and eventually to The Prospector. Beginning as a contributor, I worked my way up to staff photographer and eventually to where I am now as photo editor. The only reason I am here is because of the help and support of all my colleagues, former and new. Without them, I would never have been able to make my dream a reality.  

As photo editor, I hope to bring the same passion and drive that was seen previously in this position. I hope to use visuals to tell stories that inform, entertain, persuade and inspire. I will also do everything I can to give back to the publication and audience that has given me so much. 

The unfortunate part about this universe is that superpowers don’t exist. However, just because something doesn’t exist doesn’t mean you can’t use it as inspiration. Being a superhero doesn’t mean you have to have superpowers, if you are a nice person and you strive to make the world a better place, then I feel you’re a superhero, and that’s something I strive to be.  

Joel Molina is the photo editor and may be reached at [email protected].