For Jorie Gabriele, a sophomore majoring in Public Relations and Strategic Communication at Olivet Nazarene University, the path to her current college major was anything but linear. She initially came to Olivet as a special education major. After realizing that was not a great fit for her, she switched to a social work major only to discover that it was also not exactly what she pictured herself doing. Finally, she came to her current major.
“I had a passion for sports, I had a passion for the elderly population and the special needs population, and I was like, surely there is something I can do within that, with a degree in public relations and strategic communication,” Gabriele said.
Many factors played a role in her eventually choosing to go to school at Olivet from her family to her initial visit to the campus.
Work Hard, Play Hard
Gabriele has been able to enjoy not only discovering what she wants to pursue academically while at Olivet but also making connections and having fun on campus, especially through school events.
“I think it’s just fun to get the whole campus together and just see familiar faces, but I would say Rock N’ Glow was the first event of freshmen year that I was like, that was awesome,” she said. “I feel like that was kind of where I met some of my closest friends now.”
Some of her closest friends at Olivet are her three roommates, Audrey Lopatka, Kate Spittal, and Morgan Harris. One of the ways the girls are involved on campus is intramurals.
Gabriele and her roommates Audrey Lopatka (left), Kate Spittal (center right), and Morgan Harris (far right), studying together in Benner Library. The girls do everything together from studying to getting ice cream to watching movies. (Photo by: Erin Fagan)
“I have played and honestly watched a lot,” Gabriele said. “I would say softball is so fun. I played in high school and was really excited for the season here.”
Gabriele does not just enjoy intramurals at Olivet but is also an avid sports fan in general.
“I grew up playing sports throughout high school, throughout my whole life,” Gabriele said. “I’ve watched my siblings play too… they always have the TV on, ESPN’s always on with random highlights and clips and stuff. I feel like that’s where I’ve gotten that love for it.”
Gabriele’s roommate, Audrey Lopatka echoed how sports and family are a big part of who Gabriele is as a person.
“A key thing about Jorie is that she is the youngest of five and has her three older brothers that play a key factor in who Jorie is because she is not some girly girl,” Lopatka said. “That plays a big role in both her fantastic sense of humor and how she operates.”
When it comes to sports, Gabriele is specifically an avid Chicago Bears fan.
“The Bears are my ride or die, I hate to say it, but they are,” Gabriele said. “I am very invested in their decisions and everything… I grew up going to Bears games and being in the city… the Bears have always been my team.”
Looking Ahead
Looking to her future, post–Olivet life, Gabriele can see the combination of both her passion for sports and communication being factors when picking a future career.
“I would love to be a journalist or reporter specifically like… Erin Andrews,” Gabriele said. “That’s who I picture… I think that would be fun. A reporter or something within the NFL.”
Lopatka agreed that she could see Gabriele working in sports as her future career.
“She would be at the table, behind the table with all the guys, discussing the hardcore stuff,” Lopatka said.
