My name is Layne Silverman, I am 22 years old, and a recent graduate of the University of Missouri. I have a degree in Journalism with an emphasis in Strategic Communications. Raised by two lawyers, and growing up with a brother who aspires to be one as well, it was easy for me to see that the only thing in life that I wanted more than anything, was to not be a lawyer.
I grew up in the lively town of Livingston, New Jersey, where I stayed until I left for college at the ripe age of 18. From a very young age I was always the creative one in the family. Rather than look for the loopholes in problems, I thought outside the box and used my talents to overcome my weaknesses. I attended French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts summer camp in Hancock, New York, for 10 years. I took a video class there and became fascinated with video editing. After learning so much, I felt a new hope that I could do something with this in the future. When it came time to apply to college, I ended up at Ithaca College for my freshman year. Even though I enjoyed the program there, something still didn’t feel right. Something was missing. In life I have always been a go-getter and I was not going to let my college experience bring me down for the next four years, so I decided to transfer schools. The transfer process was long, hard, and time consuming. After a grueling decision process I finally decided that I was going to attend the University of Missouri in the Fall of 2015, and it was one of the best decisions of my life. Most recently, I have discovered another passion of mine and that is creative design and copywriting. Having the ability to create something, send it out into the world, and have it evoke a response is an amazing feeling. At the University of Missouri, I have the opportunity to learn about the process of advertising and all of the components involved in making a successful campaign. I have learned so much already and cannot wait to continue my education at Mizzou. Throughout my entire life and most recently throughout this process, I have learned a lot about myself and what I am capable of doing. I am very proud of the decisions I have made thus far and I do not regret anything. I think that this story has taught me and can teach people that, nothing has to be the way it is. You can change the course of your life and you are the only one standing in the way of your own happiness.
“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game” ― Babe Ruth