There’s a new reporter in town, and she’s already right at home in Washington.

Mackenzie Tewksbury, 21, recently joined the Daily News staff as a full-time reporter, after interning for the paper last summer. Originally from Cockeysville, Maryland, she graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in communications from East Carolina University.

Tewksbury said she’s been a lifelong writer, and although her childhood dream was to be an author, she decided to give journalism a try as she got older.

“I took a journalism class in high school, so I wrote for my high school newspaper,” she said. “I went to school four years for it. It’s a big part of my life.”

Moving six hours away from home was also a daunting experience, but it wasn’t long before Tewksbury began to love eastern North Carolina and what it had to offer. As her graduation date approached, Tewksbury said she knew she wanted to stay in the area.

“I think it’s just a growing area, especially Greenville and especially Washington. I think there are a lot of good things happening,” she said. “There are a lot of good things that are increasingly developing.”

Tewksbury said she thinks working at the Daily News will help her grow as a journalist, and she’s looking forward to improving in her trade of choice.

Not only that, Tewksbury is sure she is where she is meant to be.

“Never once did I ever doubt it or think about changing it,” she said of her college major. “I think it grew from a love of writing.”

While she’s not reporting, Tewksbury also enjoys finding and researching new music artists, listening to live music performances, reading and spending time with friends and loved ones.

It’s safe to say that this Maryland transplant is here to stay.

“I think it’s refreshing to just be able to tell the truth in a place that wants it and needs it,” Tewksbury said. “I wanted to learn, make connections and tell the truth.”