Kylie Schumacher: Student, Sodexo worker, Storyteller

Kylie Schumacher, a junior majoring in multimedia communication with a film studies concentration, has some big goals. 

Schumacher chose to study film after directing a one-act play during her junior year of high school titled, Anonymous. Schumacher had a lot of experience on stage, but said, “getting to have a script and tell a story and watch it come to life was so powerful and I knew that I wanted to direct.”

Schumacher is from a small Wisconsin town about 45 minutes outside of Milwaukee called Mukwonago.

“It was very small, but it was safe, and it was where I met my best friend,” she said. 

Schumacher has been a singer her entire life and was classically trained.

“Music is probably the thing that drives me the most. I love singing. I love all forms of performing–I’m not a very good dancer, but I was the choreographer for the middle school musical,” Schumacher said. 

Though she is not involved in the theater department at Olivet, she has “taken a step back from doing it and worked more on pursuing creating films and things like that.” Schumacher has gotten the opportunity to do this with her favorite class at Olivet.

“Last semester when I got to create a documentary for Documentary Production, that was the most fun I’ve had my entire Olivet experience. It was such a party,” she said. 

Outside of class, Schumacher works for Sodexo in Ludwig.

“The people who work there are great. There’s just a lot of things about the organization that I don’t like the way that it’s operated.” She shared more about what it’s like to work there as a student.

“It’s a very exhausting job and there are a lot of people who give the line servers crap sometimes.” Schumacher wishes people would remember that “we’re students, just like you,” and “if you are kind to us, and if you treat us with respect, then we will treat you with respect. If you ask for extras nicely, we’ll give them to you.” 

If Schumacher could give a disclaimer about herself before meeting anyone, she would say, “I have social anxiety, so when you first meet me, I may seem like I am the biggest jerk in the whole world .. . but if you give me time to feel comfortable in a space, you will soon learn that I am the biggest psychopath you will ever meet.” 

Elle Marshall and Schumacher, who met in a Mass Media and Society course, became best friends in their Sophomore year.

When asked what Kylie’s biggest quirk is, Marshall said, “There are so many. She’s an enneagram two, so she’s really good at giving people love and serving people,” like using her own meal swipe to bring Marshall lunch when she’s too busy. “She is just so amazing, but she will physically run from love.” For example, Marshall holds the door open for Schumacher and calls her “your majesty,” but Schumacher backs away. “That’s one of her biggest quirks.”

Marshall appreciates that Schumacher “genuinely cares about those around her. And she is always there to pick you up. One of the biggest things I appreciate about her is her capacity to go from extremely crazy and wild to serious at the drop of a dime if she needs to.” 

If Marshall could share one thing about Kylie, she suggests, “Just get to know her. She is a gem. She’s always there to talk, to pick you up, even if she doesn’t know you terribly well.”

Schumacher’s goals post-graduation include to work on the production side of the film industry.

“I just want to be able to be in the film industry and be able to make a career out of that that’s sustainable,” she said.

This goal is not a new one.

“Ever since I was 12, I felt like I always was supposed to live in Los Angeles and be a positive force in that industry and in that community. I’ve always felt that that’s where God is calling me. He’s led me this far.”