Ringling

About Tess...

Growing up in a small town, I didn’t always have the chance to explore my creative side. I grew up in the small town of Platte, South Dakota, about two hours from Sioux Falls. I was born and raised on a farm and graduated with only 24 students in my class. There were perks to growing up in a small town and going to school in a small district. I was able to get involved in different extracurriculars like the National Honor Society, cheer & dance, band, Future Farmers of America, student council, and yearbook. Being involved in multiple activities, I quickly learned how to manage my time and multitask.

When I was younger, I loved interior and architectural design. I enjoyed drawing floor plans for houses and looking at flooring and countertops. At the age of 12, I bought software to design a home from scratch and pick all the finishes and furniture. I think this is where I got my start in design; I would spend hours making houses. In high school, I worked at a local sign shop designing in Adobe Illustrator. I loved my job, even if I was only there a few hours after school.

After graduation, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I ended up attending South Dakota State University for Agronomy. I quickly realized that wasn’t what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. After my first year, I toured Southeast Tech and instantly knew I needed to enroll in the Media Design Program. This program has trained me in multiple programs that have prepared me for the field and taught me valuable lessons to advance my designs. Southeast Tech has pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I am grateful for it.