Telling Stories that Matter

When I began working toward my BA in creative writing at Purdue University, one thing I knew is that I wanted to tell meaningful stories. I see the whole world through stories - in a written sentence, a moment of conversation, a painting, or a poem. 

The deeper I went into my studies at Purdue, the more I realized there was even more I could create beyond the art forms I already loved. I realized if I studied Communication, the art of storytelling could live and breathe as a tool for human connection. 

Since making this realization, I've had the chance to make a real-world impact while honing my writing and media skills. For example, at the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, I interviewed life-saving graduate researchers and featured their breakthroughs in my news writing. Then at the Purdue Graduate School, I ran social media campaigns bringing awareness to mental health on campus. At the same time, I helped a company called Good Day's Work save lives by promoting workplace safety via newsletters, social media, training videos, and more. It has been an honor to make such a difference with the tools of communication.

During this formative time when I was a full-time student, I also served as Vice President of the Purdue National Alliance on Mental Illness. I leveraged the club's Instagram platform to stoke engagement for peaceful activism against dating violence. It was incredible to see my peers feel hope and connection during the tumultuous times of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising political tensions.

My undergraduate experience culminated in a senior internship in which I worked alongside an amazing group of journalism professionals promoting community engagement. The initiative was called America Amplified and was funded by WFYI Indianapolis and the Public Broadcasting Station. I learned so much from this experience, including the importance of listening and paying attention to people's needs in the contexts of news, social media, team building, and community engagement. For digital media professionals, especially on social media, it can be tempting to churn out a stream of content without thought. Instead, I now aspire to craft narratives that connect on a human level even when deadlines are tight.

Studying Communication opened doors for me which allowed me to make a positive difference in people's real lives. It's not just about creating content or grabbing people's attention in the short-term. The long-term connections we foster are what really matter, and for a business, this comes with the welcome effect of building a loyal audience.

Now that I've entered the workforce, I look forward to continuing to engage people with stories that matter. Thank you for being here to witness this chapter of my own story.

- Beth Ferrier

elizabethf1212@outlook.com