Name: Shannon Nolan
Year: Senior
Hometown: Tinley Park, IL
Major: Journalism and Mass Communication, Engaged Social Innovation (focus in entrepreneurial design)
Dream job: Social entrepreneur / non fiction writer
Spirit animal: Mindy Kaling
Favorite place in the world: London, England
I’ve changed my major five times. I sunburn on cloudy days. In high school, I was voted most likely to be first in credit card debt. I drink more wine and own more t-shirts that have some goofy saying about wine than I would like to admit. Cadbury chocolate is my weakness. And Dunkin Donuts iced coffee. I used to be a competitive figure skater. My role model is J.K. Rowling and not just because she wrote Harry Potter but because she is the definition of savage in the best ways possible. I have a tattoo of a Celtic Trinity knot that I often forget is there. I plan my life out on children’s finger painting paper and tack it to my bedroom wall. I’ve worked everywhere from the back room of a jewlery store to a hospital’s infectious disease unit to an upscale hotel’s front desk. I lived in Europe for four months. I like writing but only somtimes and while wearing fuzzy socks and listening to George Ezra. I have written an entire book proposal, though. My favorite flavor of gelato is amaretto. I firmly believe the world would be a better place if more workplaces had doggy daycares. While I would like to be a social entrepeneur, I will also settle for nannying for Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. Or a Kardashian.
As a college sophomore, I knew one thing for certain: I wanted to write. And maybe that I needed to give up on having ombre hair.
During my first fall semester as a journalism major, I saw an email in the sea of karate club open night invitations, Hawk alerts and CAB newsletters that invited students interested in writing, editing, social media, photography and marketing to join this organization I had never heard of. Curious about this opportunity, I showed up at the public library for an information session that truly, utterly and beautifully would change my life forever.
During my sophomore year, I found myself writing articles about anything my heart desired, from Hillary Clinton to my favorite non fiction novels. I also found myself on the executive board as the events director, tirelessly trying to bring a group of so many incredibly talented, creative women together outside of our monthly meetings. I sent an email to an internet celebrity that turned into my first real interview. Following the end of spring semester, I packed a too small rolling suitcase full of cute heels and business cards and headed to New York City for Her Conference, a whirlwind weekend of professional development, Shake Shack, fabulous keynote speeches and a visit to every last stop on the Gossip Girl New York tour.
Junior year brought more event directing, writing and a new internship with Her Campus nationals as a Campus Expansion Assistant. While I attempted to juggle my roles with Her Campus, a research assistantship, two jobs and school, I was planning for my semester abroad in London. I spent this last spring in the U.K., taking a few classes and interning at an education technology innovation hub, Edspace. In my free time, I chased ponies through the fields of southern England, rode a Vespa through Tuscany, Italy, found Kate Middleton at the opening night of 42nd Street, got lost on too many trains and spent more money on brunches than I’d like to admit (and souvenirs like “Kate Middle-toe socks”).
Then suddenly, coming in full force like a double decker bus trying to make the green light, senior year arrived. I could not be more excited to lead Her Campus Iowa as President. This organization has been the launching point for all of the crazy directions my life has taken me in and continues to push me in. These friendships are my favorite, these writers are the most inspirational, and these women are the best definitions of #ladybosses that I’ll ever know.
Shannon will be spending her summer as a communications intern for Rockwell Collins and participating in the University of Iowa’s John Pappajohn’s Entrepreneurial Center’s Venture School.
All photos courtesy of Shannon Nolan.