Source: Kelly White
Saint Xavier wasn’t my first choice.
Now, before you stop reading, let me help you to understand why.
I graduated from Richards High School in Oak Lawn in 2002 with a full creative writing scholarship to an Illinois state school. I chose Northern Illinois University and loved every minute of it, with my journalism degree sitting at the end of the tunnel, spending time with friends, and writing for the Northern Star.
It sounds picturesque, right? However, what I’m leaving out is that my parents divorced right before I started college.
Like many, I come from a broken home.
The hardships at home during this particular time were difficult, to say the least. It was after my sophomore year when I decided to come back home and transfer to Saint Xavier University. Not to sound cliché, but that decision has been one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life.
Saint Xavier welcomed me with open arms to its beautiful campus. I soaked up all of the literary courses I could, wrote for the Xavierite, and majored in Mass Media Communication with a minor in creative writing.
Coming from a rather dorky childhood and living in books, I absolutely loved everything about the quaintness of Saint Xavier (the long hallways, historic buildings, the smell of old books and education) and also being close to home. I took courses I didn’t need just to learn more. I spent countless hours in the photography room, developing my own prints. The professors I had not only encouraged me, but pushed me to do better, to be great, to excel in the field I loved.
Having this hands-on experience in a smaller college setting allowed me to become who I am today.
Now, I can proudly say that my Saint Xavier education has led me to become an experienced photojournalist. I write for many print and online newspapers, copy edit, freelanced at the Chicago Tribune and the Daily Southtown, and have had my photography featured at local art galleries.
It sounds like a lot, but I’m not done. With three small children at home (all named with writer connotations: Emerson Grace, Mila Paige and Sawyer Jade), I plan to eventually obtain my Master’s Degree in journalism, dabble in public relations, and work more in the world of editing.
I’ve always lived by the motto that nothing is an excuse, and that still stands true to this day. The world is my oyster and I have Saint Xavier to thank for opening up so many doors.
Written by: Kelly White
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