I'm grateful to have grown up in Burns, Oregon. Burns is a 2 stoplight town in the high desert of Eastern Oregon. Having one elementary, middle, and high school allowed room for growth in friendships and community in general. Having 2 older siblings relatively close in age was helpful because our friend groups overlapped often.
My parents, Dan and Jen, saw the benefit in this community. My dad being raised in Burns shared his perspective of experience, while my mom as an only child from North Carolina was hopeful.
I don't remember a season without sports and familiar teammates across them all. Sports were something that the community has always come together to support, which I know has shaped my appreciation for discipline and maintaining an active lifestyle.
As much time as sports were a part of my daily routine, it was never my absolute passion and naturally, I was not an outstanding social butterfly. This gave me the opportunity to appreciate and take time stewarding my ability to paint.
In my senior year of high school I realized that the one thing I knew I had an eye for was design. Humorously though, I never liked technology or digital art. However, I knew it was something I needed to learn to utilize given the advancements in society today. This helped inform my decision to pursue a graphic design and advertising degree.
Grand Canyon University (GCU) was the only school I seriously considered going to for many reasons. Reasons include its foundation as a Christian University, the lack of discussion and emphasis on politics and the Covid 19 vaccine, and the location being far enough away from home to experience a new location.
Today, as a GCU graduate, I recognize that a life of possibilities and unexpected circumstances awaits me in a new career and chapter of my life. I look forward to it, I truly do.
Here's a few points worth sharing that I know ring true about me today:
1. I am primarily a communicator. I am not a blind illustrator/designer. I actually thrive in the opportunity to share and explain why something works because I recognize that not everyone sees things with a detail-oriented eye like a designer.
2. The design process and development is not where my motivation lies. I am motivated by the reason a design is being created. I have learned that design is communication, so I don’t see a reason to design if there’s not something to communicate.
3. I am growing both as a person and as a leader, even though it’s uncomfortable. I am willing to be the one to step up when no one else wants to, but I love encouraging others to get out of their comfort zone too.
To summarize:
Given that I am an incredibly observant person and care a lot about others, I always took to heart the encouragement I received growing up in painting, my work ethic, and prioritizing kindness towards others. My awareness of others shapes my motivation for why I paint and take time designing what I do in my free time. It shapes the way I live my life because I recognize that a little give and love towards someone else can go a long way.