CTK Class of 2022 Alumna pursuing Creative College & Career Path

Now in her junior year at Columbia College Chicago, Trinity Sutton, CTK ’22 is all-in on pursuing her passion for art and creativity. The graphic design major with a minor in fashion styling balances her academic work with a school internship that has her handling Colombia’s social media and graphic design materials, providing valuable experience towards her career goals.

While at CTK, Trinity realized that designing flyers and posters was something she liked and was good at. Her then teacher, Mrs. Cheryl Loy suggested she consider pursuing graphic design in college. The colleges she was originally considering didn’t offer her preferred major, so she broadened her search. Her initial exposure to Columbia College was when she attended an open house. She discovered it was a great fit that offered flexible and unique areas of study that matched her interests like fashion styling and graphic design from a creative perspective. She also liked Columbia’s small class size and “the real-world diversity” of the student population. Won over by her visit, she decided to apply and eventually enrolled. To fund her college education, Trinity relies on three primary scholarships – the first from Columbia tied to her CTK grades, the second came through a summer caddying program at Oak Park Country Club, and the third was awarded by the Austin-based BUILD program. She proudly expects to graduate debt-free.

Trinity felt prepared by her CTK classes for college schoolwork. Her primary college adjustments were related to living on her own and managing her schedule. Trinity’s mother was a first-generation college student and has provided valuable support and guidance based on her own experiences. One bit of advice that Trinity has taken to heart is the recommendation to get involved in activities including a few outside her school.  She commits 20 hours a week to her internship as Columbia’s social media strategist and graphic designer developing content for the admissions department, and school as a whole. The busy college student also carves out time for a student government position as the Senator for Diversity & Inclusion. “It’s a big role. I need to understand and help bring about what all students need, inclusive of people of color and international students.” She also joined the modeling club to learn more about the fashion industry and make connections outside of school. She is grateful to have had an opportunity to walk in some of Chicago’s biggest fashion shows. A last area of focus is her participation in Chicago Votes which encourages young people to be more knowledgeable about and vote in local and national elections. Trinity sees it as an opportunity to help effect change in her community, and she did so this fall by helping to organize the Rev Up the Vote Night on Columbia’s campus.

Trinity needed to persuade her mother that attending CTK was the right high school choice for her. Her mom was eventually convinced after hearing about her daughter’s opportunity to work in a professional setting as part of the Corporate Work Study program. Trinity’s work assignment at law firm, Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen provided valuable experience in the corporate world. As she described it, “It was a great experience. I worked as the office receptionist interacting with the lawyers and clients. My supervisor trusted me to take on various responsibilities like filing papers, setting up appointments, and making client dinner arrangements. Whatever was needed, I did.”

Since then, whenever she has applied for a job, her law firm experience has helped to seal the deal. Like in college, Trinity was involved in a diverse set of activities and roles at CTK including the treasurer of the National Honor Society, a majorette, and service volunteer, helping to feed people who are homeless at soup kitchens. She cites her biggest high school discovery as identifying what she liked and wanted to do, and importantly. that it was okay to pursue her own path.

Trinity has made it a priority to land an internship that helps her broaden her social media and design skills. She is targeting a position in the creative & marketing community in Chicago for next summer. Also on her bucket list is an international experience. A Columbia-sponsored trip to Madrid in the spring was canceled due to low signups, so she is looking into other study abroad programs either during J-Term or next summer. She also is considering going to grad school in Japan which she described as a “market having a big influence on design and creativity”, and before eventually starting a career in graphic design and social media marketing.

Her advice to current CTK seniors on their transition to college - “It gets better. It will seem scary at first to be in a new place without your family and friends. But, once you find your own routine and group of people, and study what you love, it will get better.” She recommends doing what has become her main college priority: “creating a community and networking.” Finally in the spirit of the holiday season, the independent young woman expressed her thanks to family, friends, and several CTK teachers & staff members for supporting her on her journey. Trinity has accomplished a lot already, with the promise of even bigger things to come.