Background
"Someone should tell their side of the story, and maybe people would understand then and wouldn't be so quick to judge a boy by the amount of hair oil he wore"
- S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders
From reading The Outsiders in seventh grade, this quote has remained with me and has shaped the course of my life. Stories have such a powerful role in our lives and in how we connect to each other. Through stories we learn to empathize, grow stronger, and encourage each other to make a difference.
Education:
I graduated from Dordt University in 2019 with a double major in Digital Media Production & Christianity and Pop Culture Studies. Digital Media Production taught me the technical skills to tell stories through video, photography, and graphic design. Christianity and Pop Culture studies gave me the ability to analyze how the culture someone finds their self in influences their beliefs and their way of communicating.
Work Experience:
After graduating, I got to try out a variety of roles — capturing special moments at Jostens, finding creative ways to bring people together during my internship at Pleasant Valley Church, and using my video and graphic skills at Tick Tock Escape Room to design fun, immersive worlds for players.
Player Stats
Story Telling
Public Speaking
Problem Solving
Organization
Brainstorming
Mentorship
Learning Agility
Inventory
Adobe CC
Photoshop -Turn ideas into stuning images
InDesign -Long Form Designs
Illustrator -Creating iconic icons / logos
Premiere Pro -Editing captive stories together
After Effect -Give videos life with animations
Canon Cameras -Capturing every moment
Davinci Resolve -Using color to emphasis a story
Avid Media Composer -Creating Stories that move people
Figma -Create prototypes of websites
VS Code -Writing code that ties it all together
HTML/CSS/JavaScript -Coding pages that matter
Expanding My Worldview
Exploring the world is a vital part of my growth as a creative and as a person. I have spent years studying Japanese and then expanding to include Korean in my language studies. Learning these languages has given me the ability to connect more deeply with new cultures and communities, inspiring my travels with friends to South Korea, with family to Canada, and soon, a new adventure in Japan.
Photos From Trip to South Korea
Photos From Trip to Canada
Community Quests
I don't only love connecting with people from different countries, but also connecting with people in the community I live in. I volunteer my skills and abilities for multiple organizations to help strengthen the Kansas City Community.
Guild Roster
City Life Church Guild - Volunteer in their Kids' City helping teach kids on Sunday Mornings. Videographer/Photographer for their yearly VBS to capture the fun to be used to recap what the students learned and to be used for promotions in the following year. I also volunteer with their foster care outreach facilitating communication between case workers and church members.
ScrapsKC Guild- Volunteer in making craft kits to be sold in their store as well as being sent out to local teachers. Help with classroom makeovers for teachers to make sure teachers have the supplies they need to give their students the best education. Create promotional videos for fall fundraiser to be used on social media as well as during the fundraiser.
Youth Front Guild - Make meals and desserts for their teen parent Bible study. Volunteer as a Cabin Leader at their summer camp to help nurture the next generation.
Future Expansions
On the roadmap ahead, my focus is on evolving as a storyteller. This includes mastering new tools and strategies that let me bring ideas to life in fresh ways. From sharpening my Video Production and Graphic Design to expanding into UX and web development, I see each step as another chapter in the story I’m creating.
Outside the main quest, I’m embarking on exciting side missions: traveling to new lands to learn from different cultures, leveling up my figure skating skills as I train toward future performances and competitions, and joining forces with fellow fans in vibrant fandom spaces. Each side quest fuels my creativity, builds resilience, and adds bonus experience points to my journey.