From Reader to Editor-in-Chief: A Student’s Journey To A Professional Writing Career
Cori Laatsch ’24 chose her career when she was just in eighth grade. “At that age, I was like, ‘Okay, I need to figure out what I’m going to do for the rest of my life,’ which I feel like most people don’t do in eighth grade,” she shares. We would usually agree, but Cori’s love for reading, knack for grammar, and fondness for her English classes made her the exception. Yet, she never actually considered herself to be a writer – something that would come to change when she began her journey at Valpo.
“I didn’t really like writing and didn’t want to be an author; I thought that title was reserved only for creative writers. I loved editing,” Cori reflects. “That didn’t change until I came to Valpo, where Christ College and my public and professional writing major encouraged me to embrace that label. It showed me that academic writers are still also writers – it’s just a different kind of storytelling.”
As fate would have it, Christ College – The Honors College had an impact on Cori’s professional aspirations in more ways than one.
The only time Cori ever stepped foot on campus before move-in day was on a Christ College Visit Day, when her time in a mock class caused her to fall in love. “I just thought it was the coolest thing ever. I never had that kind of learning experience before. It’s very interdisciplinary and discussion-based, and the readings welcome a lot of different perspectives,” she says. “Students come in from all different majors and offer their own perspectives – it’s encouraged, and you really learn how to interpret things on your own.”
While Christ College stole Cori’s heart, Valpo’s atmosphere and flexible academic pathways called to her professional mindset. While almost every school offers an English major, Valpo offers a bachelor’s degree in public and professional writing – which is more closely aligned with her dream of working at a publishing house.
“That’s where I want to go – Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette…I used to see editing as a way to help authors get published,” Cori says. “Now, that’s developed into wanting to help improve someone’s raw talent on the page, transferring it into something more marketable to a wider audience.”
The growth of Cori’s dream isn’t limited to her major of choice. She was also able to take core classes in business and technical writing, grammar, and intellectual property law, as well as highly beneficial courses in graphic design, web design, and speech that will give her an edge in the field. Combined with her fundamentals of business minor, we have a feeling Cori will make quite a splash when she starts applying to her dream jobs. “I’ve learned so many different things that I actually use now and have used in internships. At first, I wouldn’t have even expected those courses to be something so beneficial to me, but it has helped me out a lot,” she says.
Aside from her studies, Cori credits Valpo’s English department for her success as a student. “The professors are just so nice. If you need to talk, need help on something, or want to work through a particular assignment, they’ll never turn you away for any reason,” she says, “We’re a tight-knit community. We like to cultivate that within our small department.”
The English department also encourages students to get involved with on-campus organizations like The Lighter, Valpo’s student literary magazine, and the department newsletter. Cori could tell you; she’s been a part of both! Cori joined the Lighter’s staff as a freshman, serving as an assistant editor for her sophomore and junior years before coming into her current role as editor-in-chief just this year.
As if her time at The Lighter wasn’t an incredible experience on its own, Cori also had the opportunity to step into the field as a copywriting intern for magazines under Engaged Media and at Concordia Publishing House last summer. On top of that, Cori has been a resident assistant since her sophomore year at three of our residence halls. (Talk about a stacked resume!)
So, what’s on the horizon for Cori? With only one semester between her and graduation, it’s safe to say there are a lot of feelings involved. “If you asked me how I felt about graduation a month ago, I would have been like, ‘I’m chill, I don’t care, I’m just excited to start my life.’ But, now I’m just thinking, ‘please do not end,’” Cori says. “It’s definitely starting to sink in that I only have one semester left with Valpo, but I’m looking forward to it and have high hopes.”
Those high hopes are grounded by well-rounded editing experience and “human being” experience, with her time at Valpo touching the lives of every person she’s met. Her favorite memories stem from her time as an RA, precious hours spent with her best friends, roommates, coworkers, and her boyfriend whom she met only a month into their freshman year.
Her advice to incoming Beacons follows the same path that pulled her Valpo experience so close to her heart: “Get involved as soon as possible. Don’t be afraid to jump in before settling down,” she encourages, “If you talk to any Valpo student, they’re probably involved in about four things, doing it all at once. I think that’s just part of our culture here at Valpo. It’s a good thing.”
Do you see yourself in Cori’s story? Check out our English offerings and involvement opportunities, and see all the work Cori and our talented Beacons have done for The Lighter.
