Olivia Slyter ’25 | Valley City, North Dakota
Majors: Communication Studies, English Writing
Minors: Women’s and Gender Studies, Social Activism, Film Studies

For most of my life, I’ve continuously felt like I could be doing more and that I wasn’t living out my passions and interests to the fullest extent. The great thing about Concordia is the sheer number of academic programs and opportunities for students to pursue their passions in a unique and personalized way.

All of the academic programs that I’m a part of at Concordia have impacted me not only in my career goals but in my personal life as well. I’ve learned so much about the world, how it works, my place in it and, most importantly, how to change it.

Get to Know Me

In the fall, I’ll be starting my senior year at Concordia. I graduated in 2021 from Valley City High School in Valley City, North Dakota, where I competed in speech, student congress, and cross country. I have five siblings: a sister, a half brother, two stepsisters, and a stepbrother. Last summer, I moved into an apartment and one of my first courses of action was adopting my best friend, Ross — a 6-year-old orange tabby cat who participates in all of my Zoom calls and who joins me in birdwatching from the couch.

Ever since I was little, I’ve loved to create things. This love and passion has been carried into my life even now. My favorite things to do are writing, painting, embroidery, bullet journaling, and so much more. Being creative is the only way I can be fully myself.

Why Concordia

In my commencement speech to the VCHS Class of 2021, the phrase “We’re not finished yet” was repeated frequently. I didn’t fully believe the words I was saying until I got to Concordia. My dreams felt unrealistic and my passions seemed out of place. 

My dad had been the coach at Concordia for five years when I committed and continued coaching during my first two years here. I knew how close-knit the community was and how beautiful the campus was, and that was enough for me. It wasn’t until after I moved to campus when I realized how many opportunities Concordia would bring me not only professionally but academically.

Communication Studies

I came to Concordia as a multimedia journalism major with the dream of writing news for major networks. Before the end of my first semester, a Concordia grad from the communication studies department visited campus and shared her doctoral research with my COM 111 class, and I discovered that communications didn’t just mean marketing. I realized how broad communication is and how personalized I could make it. I switched majors to communication studies before the start of the spring semester.

My time in the communication studies program has felt like being a part of a huge family. My advisor, Dr. Kirsten Theye, whom I’ve had various classes with, is the most supportive, intelligent, and kind mentor I could ask for, and the peers I have met through the COM program are the types of people I want to surround myself with for the rest of my life. So far, my favorite course I’ve taken for my communication studies major has been Persuasive Communication (COM 313) with Dr. Theye.

Since starting at Concordia, nearly all of my work experience has been in the field of communications. Through Concordia, I was able to get an internship at the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center in Fargo working with their development team. The internship proved to be the best work experience I’ve had and opened my eyes to countless job opportunities that combine many of my passions. Since the internship, I’ve started assisting Dr. Darren Valenta in his research of topics surrounding stand-up comedy and mental health. I also intern in Concordia’s Communications and Marketing office.

Women’s and Gender Studies

Women’s and gender studies was the first minor I added at Concordia, shortly after declaring a communications major. My identity as a woman has always been a major part of my life, and one of the things that drives me professionally and academically. I’ve been raised by so many incredible women who have shaped my life and made me who I am today, and I knew that I wanted to better connect with these aspects of my personal and academic life. For me, the WGS minor was one of the best ways I could have done that.

To learn about feminism and gender from an academic perspective was so intriguing and rewarding for me. I felt as though I have learned about my identity and how amazing it is to be a woman largely as a product of the WGS program. My favorite course that I’ve taken for this minor has been Writing of Women (ENG 365), which I took with Dr. Karla Knutson.

Social Activism

Growing up in a small town, social activism was not a topic often brought up in casual conversation. It quickly became a driving force in my life. Throughout my time in high school, I remained unapologetic and headstrong about my views, receiving immense backlash from my peers for doing so. This backlash only made me more passionate about my ideas and perspective.

When I discovered that Concordia offered a social activism minor, I immediately added it to my DegreeWorks. My favorite class that I’ve taken for the minor is the introductory course, Social Activism: Making Change (ACT 301), with Dr. Kirsten Theye, Dr. Ken Foster, and Dr. Kristi Loberg. I learned so much about the field of activism and how to actually be an activist by taking this course and the electives offered in the minor.

Doing work for my community has always been a dream of mine. Through my internship at the , I felt as though I was really using my skills not only in communications but in social activism.

Having a positive impact on the world around you is one of the best feelings and is something that I hope to continue throughout my life.”

English Writing

Writing has been my biggest passion for as long as I can remember. Since I was a little girl, I’ve wanted to write. English was my favorite subject in school, and my senior superlative when graduating was, “Most likely to write a best-selling novel.” When reading extraordinary books or listening to my favorite music for the first time, my first thought is always, “I wish I had thought to write that first.” Writing is who I am, and I have a feeling it always will be.

I didn’t add my English writing major until the summer before my junior year at Concordia. Despite already having a major and two minors, I felt like a part of me hadn’t been fulfilled. Adding my English writing major has fulfilled so many parts of me that I didn’t even realize needed to be filled. My biggest regret is not adding it sooner.

It is impossible for me to choose one English course as my favorite. I have loved every class in which I created my original works. Whether it was the Fiction Writing Seminar (ENG 379) with Dr. Vincent Reusch or Travel Writing (ENG 325) with Professor Scott Olsen, I’ve enjoyed every second of it. Through each course, I can see my writing improving in real time, and something that I always thought would be a hobby has become something I want to pursue for the rest of my life.

Through each course, I can see my writing improving in real time.”

Film Studies

The most recent (and final) addition to my transcript came in the spring semester of my junior year when I added my film studies minor. Having taken Analyzing Film (COM 382) with Dr. Greg Carlson during a previous semester, I quickly realized how much I enjoyed doing deep dives into films and looking at films as an art form, rather than an option for date night.

The class that really sealed the deal for me to add the film studies minor was Documentary and Historical Film (COM 493) with Dr. Carlson. It was fun watching films and critiquing them, but to be able to create our own was 10 times better. It felt as though my passion for writing was playing out in real time. I cannot wait to see where this minor brings me in my final year at Concordia and in the future.

Looking Ahead

With my final year at Concordia, I am excited to finish all that I have started. Being able to graduate with five programs under my belt in the same four years that I had allotted for one program as a freshman is one of my greatest accomplishments to date.

I know that my time at Concordia will provide me with extensive opportunities in the future, and I cannot wait to utilize all of the skills I have learned from the incredible instructors who have brought me to where I am now.

Read about Concordia’s Four-Year Guarantee

Published July 2024