{"id":96231,"date":"2025-12-05T04:00:27","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T08:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/?p=96231"},"modified":"2025-12-09T11:39:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T15:39:15","slug":"path-to-success-utoledo-helps-honors-student-pursue-passion-for-writing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/12_05_2025\/path-to-success-utoledo-helps-honors-student-pursue-passion-for-writing","title":{"rendered":"Path to Success: UToledo Helps Honors Student Pursue Passion for Writing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since I was 12 years old, I have loved writing and dreamed of making a career out of my passion.<\/p>\n

But, as any young artist knows or has been told, jobs in the creative field are often pushed aside in favor of something stable. Though I knew I wanted to pursue my passion, I was told it was unrealistic, so I tried to push myself to do something else. By the time I came to UToledo, I was still undecided and had little idea what I would do.<\/p>\n

\"Graduation

CELEBRATING SUCCESS: UToledo recognizes the Class of 2025 with a series of stories featuring students receiving their degrees at fall commencement<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n

Through some career coaching classes, long talks with advisors and self-discovery, I realized I had to pursue what I loved, even if that meant I may not succeed. I did not know yet where my degree would take me, but I knew I had to take that chance.<\/p>\n

After my first semester, I formally declared my major to be English with a concentration in creative writing.<\/p>\n

During my sophomore year, one of my professors sent me an email about a job opportunity on campus. Wanting to quit my current retail job, I applied for the student writer position in the Office of University Marketing and Communications, thinking nothing of it. To my surprise, I landed the job and started writing for UToledo News.<\/p>\n

Right away, it was explained to me that this was not a journalism position, but a marketing one. As someone uninterested in the field of journalism, my eyes were suddenly opened wide to the possibility of a career in marketing, which I evidentially had a natural talent for. Finally, I had a future direction. English is such a versatile degree, I just had to see what was out there.<\/p>\n

Since then, I also have completed an internship with Flex Machine Tools in Wapakoneta, Ohio, as a content writer intern. I was a copywriter on their website as well as a scriptwriter for social media promotions and blog post creator, all of which I enjoyed doing. I was further inspired to pursue marketing.<\/p>\n

As an honors student, I took advantage of the program to aid in my future career and help me with landing interviews. Not only did I stand out among employers I learned and grew academically with the program, even completing an honors thesis this semester.<\/p>\n

\"Portrait

A student writer for University Marketing and Communications, Natalie Burgess graduates Dec. 13 with a bachelor\u2019s degree in English and then will join Ohio Valley Supply in Cincinnati as an entry-level marketing associate.<\/p><\/div>\n

I will be graduating Saturday, Dec. 13, with my bachelor of arts degree in English with honors, magna cum laude. Starting in January, I will be working at Ohio Valley Supply in Cincinnati as an entry-level marketing associate. I have many people to thank for helping me earn my position, but ultimately, I would not be where I am without UToledo presenting me with the tools to succeed.<\/p>\n

My future plans have changed frequently in the last three and a half years, but I am incredibly thankful for where my journey has led me. One day, I would like to be a serious author, but in the meantime, I can still do what I love.<\/p>\n

To all artists like me who think they could never succeed: Step outside your comfort zone, take all the opportunities you are given, and most importantly, never sacrifice your passions. You will find a way to do what you love, as long as you work hard for it.<\/p>\n

Natalie Burgess is a student writer for the Office of University Marketing and Communications. She graduates Saturday, <\/em>Dec. 13, with a bachelor\u2019s degree in English.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Natalie Burgess, a student writer for the Office of University Marketing and Communications who graduates Dec. 13 with a bachelor\u2019s degree in English, will join Ohio Valley Supply in Cincinnati as an entry-level marketing associate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":914,"featured_media":96234,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50,69,36,498,1,7],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96231"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/914"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=96231"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96231\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":96246,"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/96231\/revisions\/96246"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/96234"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=96231"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=96231"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.utoledo.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=96231"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}