ten questions WITH
TRAVIS
Graphic Design major from
C hicago , Ill .
Fall 2010
The Olivetian
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4. You are known by your peers as a very social, fun guy. What do you find humor in, and what keeps you laughing? The things that make me laugh are very simple comedy or impromptu comedy, unfortunate situations in life and God’s compelling humor.
SMITH ’11
5. When diving into college life, what has been the hardest part to adjust to? The hardest thing that I’ve adjusted to in college was creating and following my own schedule to balance my social, spiritual and academic life. 6. In what ways has your life changed now compared to before you came to Olivet? In several ways. I am much more balanced mentally, physically, socially and spiritually. Before, I didn’t know how to prioritize and follow a schedule to be successful in my day. I am much smarter. I have learned how to glorify God through my artwork, and I am altogether better at creating art. I am much better at sustaining healthy relationships with friends and family. And most importantly, I am much closer to Christ in my relationship with Him. It was here at Olivet that God made clear some of His plans for my life and gave me a desire to fulfill them. 7. What gives you motivation and encouragement in your daily life? God has helped me to develop a habit of conversing with Him throughout the day, and this is what gives me motivation and encouragement in my daily life. God always reaffirms that He has a plan for me and my future, and knowing this helps me get through the day. Also, reading His Word encourages me every day. And I always operate more effectively when I get a decent amount of alone time during my day. This motivates me for whatever daily struggles I must face.
Kinetic potential 1. What is your dream job for your future? A dream career would be as a successful novelist, illustrator and founder/owner of a Christian clothing company.
8. What are some significant factors in your life currently that have impacted you? The most significant factors in my life are my relationships, both with God and people. My mom has played a huge role in my growth, and she continues to support me in my growth in Christ and my academic success. She continues to be an inspiration in my life. My friends, both those whom I have met at Olivet and those I have back home, are also very important parts of my life. Many professors have also been very impactful in my life. Some include: Dr. Olney of the sociology department and Prof. Greiner of the art department. Also, Woody Webb of the student development department has been a great inspiration to me. He has held me accountable and supported me ever since I came to Olivet. I can tell he cares about me and my success in life — like many other Olivet employees,. The RA ministry is also a huge factor in my life right now and the relationships that I have begun to develop because of it. And not to sound cliché, but God really is the biggest and most important factor in my life. I honestly can’t go a day without at least thinking about Him. My relationship with Him really is what keeps all of my other ones afloat.
Although these were rough and rocky times, God continued to encourage me because I was truly convinced I belonged here. God also provided me with people at Olivet who encouraged me and helped me to continue to trust in the Lord. Because of His provisions, I never stopped believing it was God’s plan to have me here. Here I am on the verge of graduating from Olivet this May! Besides an irreplaceable education, God has blessed me with what I believe to be lifelong relationships with other students, professors and Olivet employees.
2. What are some of the significant challenges you overcame to attend ONU? I am from the Cabrini Green neighborhood of Chicago. For many years, this area has been considered underprivileged, and the children there have unfortunately been introduced to a life without a good education — a life that involves violence, drugs, crime and other gang related activities. Growing up in Cabrini, I was one of these children, and I ended up joining a gang myself. I had no motivation to achieve an education because I believed, like so many of my peers, that we had no real opportunity to become anything more than a stereotypical Cabrini Green resident. When I was fourteen years old, the Lord introduced me to a Christian organization called By the Hand, and I completely surrendered my life to Christ when I was sixteen. God changed my entire lifestyle. I began to care about my education and achieved academic success in high school. The moment I began to research Olivet, I knew it was the college God wanted me to attend. After I began at Olivet, I lacked the finances to register and struggled to remain a student here. For the next five semesters, I couldn’t register on time because of financial reasons.
9. What class do you enjoy the most right now? My favorite class is career preparation because it consists of all of the other art students that I have gotten to know over the years. We have fun with one another as we all prepare for our art shows and careers. The professor, Scott Dombrowski, has always inspired me and challenged me to operate at my full potential. And I am excited that I get to work on the illustrations for the novel I plan to publish after graduation and display them for my art show in March.
3. You are one of many Olivet students with a God-sized story on how you ended up here. How do you ensure your past doesn’t define you? I use my past for God’s glory by first realizing that everything is all about Him and that He is sovereign. Being a former gang member, my past haunts me and tempts me to believe it does define me. However, God helps me remember He has made me new in Him. God continues to use my testimony to bless others for His glory. I have found I can relate to various people with different rough backgrounds because of what God has brought me through. Also, I grew up without a father in my life and since I gave my life to Christ, God has helped me to view Him as my Father. He helps me not to be defined by my past life as a fatherless child.
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10. When you have free time, what do you like to do? Some of things I enjoy doing with my friends in my free time are playing board, card and video games; watching movies; telling jokes; conversing (discussing a wide variety of things); and playing sports. Some of the things I enjoy doing on my own are reading, playing video games and watching movies, going for walks, observing nature, working on my novel series, designing artwork, creating, conversing with God, thinking while I listen to soft music, imagining and working out.
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