Planning on coming for just two years, Faith Horn considered the sciences, biology, and dental hygiene. Something consistent. Something steady. Something more financially supportive.
But… two years focusing on science? She wanted more than that.
And after her campus visit, she wanted more than two years.
The College Decisions: What and Where to Study?
Horn is a senior studying graphic design with a concentration in painting at Olivet Nazarene University. But to get to this point, she had two big decisions to make: what would she study, and where?
Horn had always been a traditional artist, enjoying drawing and painting. She loved art and had a talent for it, but never viewed it or thought of pursuing it as a career.
“I always had my mind set on doing something else that would maybe provide more support, moneywise even. I wanted to stick with something that would be more supportive and not so inconsistent,” Horn said.
Thus, she thought about studying biology; she enjoyed science. She also considered dental hygiene; it interested her, but she was unsure about spending two years focused on science.
“I wanted more than just that,” Horn said.
Before settling on what to study, though, she also had to consider where.
And many factors play into that.
For Horn, those factors were: convenience, closeness to home, the campus, the people, the academic offerings, and the Christian aspect. Though initially overlooking it, Olivet turned out to be just right.
Convenience was a part of it, as she already had been going to school in the general area. The thirty-minute drive for Olivet, then, was not that far out there.
Closeness to home was also a part of it.
“I wanted to be close to my parents – I have a really close relationship with my parents so I didn’t want to up and leave right away. I wanted to get that college feel while still being home. I think I had a fear of being homesick,” Horn said.
On top of these things, the campus, people, and academic offerings also mattered. Upon visiting Olivet, she found that she loved the campus. She also encountered the art program, which excited her. She knew people who would be in the art program, and she felt a closeness to them. Connecting with a counselor, then, she talked through the process.
“I kind of wanted to be here longer than two years. I thought about anything else besides dental hygiene… I always really loved art and had a talent in it, but never thought of pursuing it,” Horn said.
Then, graphic design entered the picture. It was not traditional art – the kind with paint and pencil – and with it came a lot to learn. However, for Horn, it was a good path to consider, offering a bit more of the stability and consistency she was looking for. She could still have traditional art, but she would be equipped with the digital side of it as well.
So, it was settled: Horn came to Olivet, studying graphic design alongside a bit of painting.
With all this, there was also the Christian aspect.
“Being at the same place with a bunch of other believers who view life and are working towards the same thing as you… We’re all here under the same reason and purpose; it’s nice to be able to go somewhere [with people] who have the same heart behind what they’re doing,” Horn said.
And looking back on the whole college decision process, she reflected on how the Lord had His hand on it all.
“And then God’s like no, this is what I have planned for you… It just feels like it was a God thing; that I was meant to be here,” Horn said.
An Artist on the Job
A lot of Horn’s involvement is in her work. She has two jobs off-campus: one at Sequels, a Bourbonnais thrift shop, and the other at Pathfinder, a creative and marketing agency in Kankakee. Starting as an intern at Pathfinder, she now works there as a full-fledged employee where she continually encounters new challenges. Contributing some creativity to the company’s wide range of creations, she has learned and grown a lot. She loves it.
Always Growing – Art, Creativity, Fitness, and More
Aside from school and work, Horn pours a lot into fitness and essentially anything creative. From consistent gym runs to art commissions, she gives everything her all. Likewise, her creativity and drive shine through in so many ways, from her interest in fashion, love of shopping, and taste for sweet treats and fun drinks to how she intentionally cares and makes time for the people in her life.
“She’s cool; there are so many things about her! She’s so caring and driven about all the stuff she does, and especially with her art. Everything she does she works really hard at,” Molly Powers, a good friend of Horn’s, said. “She dedicates a lot of time to fitness and has a really cool style. She’s so funny and fun to be around… [and she’s] really caring. She always remembers little details about me… [and] it’s so cool to see how she’s grown into her own personal style as an artist.”
From art and fitness to the people in her life, Horn intentionally cares and gives her all. And as she continually pours in and tackles every new challenge, she continually grows.
“[In art], you’re always growing. There’s always something more you can contribute and learn more about because there’s so many different aspects of it,” Horn said. “You’re never done growing, which ties into my art and into fitness as well. Always growing, always learning, always improving… I’ve noticed it in everything I do.”
Finding motivation in that there is always room for growth, Horn presses on. She strives for more, seeks to continuously improve, and leans all the more into her passions, doing what she loves and continuing to be inspired.
