Public Relations and Personal Relationships.

If you stay comfortable, you’ll never improve. This is a sentiment that I’m sure many would agree with, but something Cassidy Freeman likes to live her life by.

She settled into her seat, laptop open to some other work she had to get done that day. We started our conversation with some simple questions. Her favorite drink at the coffee shop we were at, Stefari Cafe, was a chai latte. Though, she noted that she loves to add in some fall flavors during pumpkin spice season when she feels like having a little more sugar than normal. Coffee, however, was not on her favorites list as she notes that she has enough energy before adding in caffeine. She’s also a fan of a good slice of banana bread.

However, baked goods and warm drinks weren’t the only topic of conversation.

Freeman, I found, is a very ambitious woman. When asked about her college major and work in public relations, she was extremely self-assured. She knew she would be in this major “since the beginning”, and already has plans for her post-graduation career. She has a passion for work through St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and hopes to land a job there after she graduates in 2023. According to a close friend, she “has the heart for [working with St. Jude]”, and he believes she could do some great things in her life.

On a more personal note, we also discussed her favorite experiences, hobbies, and personal achievements. She was able to participate in Orpheus her freshman year, though the time commitment became too much as she progressed through her college career. Now, she participates in PRSSA and the dance team at Olivet. She is going to be performing a solo in their next recital, and is very excited about it. Besides communication and dance, she really enjoys writing and hopes to become a published author someday. While she enjoys writing poetry in her free time, she just doesn’t yet feel ready to share it all with the world, but keep an eye out for her first publication down the road!

Her favorite personal achievement was something she felt was cheesy, but I thought was really sweet. She feels most proud of the impact she has had on the life of her younger sister, Macy. In many ways, she feels excited that fourth-grade Macy is excelling in her classes, and even more so that she is following in her footsteps in many ways. However, while she’s excited to see her sister doing some of the same things she had done at that age and sharing some of the same interests, she’s even more excited for all of her personal interests to develop in time. She looks forward to watching where life takes her, and hopes to continue to be a strong force in her life as she grows up.

Finally, I got to one of my personal favorite questions to ask when getting to know someone. This is one question that definitely caught her up for a moment before she was able to answer in full, but is very telling of her strongest personality traits and core values. I inquired as to what her life motto was, or a phrase she liked to live by. Her response was that she believes there is no growth if you always stay in your comfort zone in life. Being taken to uncomfortable places is key to moving forward, and for someone like her, I know it is a mindset that will take her far.