I’ve always loved reading and writing, ever since I was a kid. When I was in middle school, I filled endless amounts of notebooks with fantasy stories and ideas instead of paying attention in class. In high school, I moved from notebooks to my phone, typing up a storm on a tiny keyboard. Despite my love and appreciation for the arts of literature, it wasn’t until my junior year of high school that I realized that an English degree was something I wanted to pursue. Until then, I had grappled with the idea of studying a variety of different topics: animation, environmental science, or computer science.

Having grown up in a suburb of the Metro Detroit area, the only schools anyone ever talked about were Michigan State and University of Michigan. Seeking something beyond the scope of the Great Lakes State, I expanded my college search to neighboring states, and eventually the city of Chicago specifically. It was during this time that I discovered the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), which I made my focus during the application process.

While in high school, I was a member of my school’s creative writing club, and was a writer on the school newspaper, The Chariot. I wrote on a variety of topics and interviewed students from all different classes, grades, and backgrounds. During my time on the newspaper team, I also learned how to operate a camera and edit photos, which has since given me an upper hand in website management and creation, photoshop skills, and photojournalism. I was also a member of the National Honors Society throughout high school, which helped in my application process to UIC’s Honors College.

My work experience has exposed me to a variety of different people and situations. I have worked in both food service and in retail, and thus have developed a multitude of skills that have helped me succeed not just in the workforce, but in everyday life, as well. Having worked in retail for about five years at The North Face, I have developed and honed my communication abilities. Before starting at this job when I was sixteen, I was shy and on the verge of being socially awkward. Now, I am confident in talking to people in a way that is open and welcoming. In my experience working in food service, I learned to work on a team with others to accomplish tasks. Teamwork is an important aspect of any work environment, and working together to complete orders at a restaurant has allowed me to grow into a “team player.”

During my studies at UIC, I have taken a variety of different classes that have instilled me with the knowledge necessary for success. Notable classes, including media and professional writing, editing and publishing, writing digital and new media, and advanced writing of nonfiction prose, have honed my writing skills and have kept me motivated and challenged. These classes have encouraged me to continue my writing journey, especially as I head into my search for an internship.

I still have much I wish to learn and grow in, and I am confident that the skills I have developed through my educational, work, and professional experiences will aid me in the journey that lies ahead. I am someone who is always looking to improve myself and my work, as well as to learn and adapt to overcome adversity. As a student, there is still much I have to learn, and I look forward to growing as a person through these experiences.