By CHRISTINA CLARK
Staff Writer
Finding a spare moment to get Courtney Sniadecki, The Preface’s web editor, to slow down is a difficult task. She’s a busy woman.
“Unfortunately, between a full-time job, a part-time job and a full school schedule, I don’t have much free time. I work every day of the week, and when I’m not working, I’m studying,” she said.
It is this drive that has brought her so far in her studies, and what is positioning her for a successful trajectory from IU South Bend (IUSB).
A South Bend native, Sniadecki spent much of her childhood between South Bend and Fort Wayne, where other family resided. And like many college students, Sniadecki started college with a different major in mind when she started. An English major for most of her college career, she decided to switch over to mass communication with a concentration in public relations after starting as the Communications Coordinator for the City of South Bend’s Venues Parks & Arts (VPA).
“I enjoy journalism just as much, but I figured I have a lot of editorial experience already and could use a better understanding of PR for my career,” she said.
When Sniadecki isn’t doing homework, attending class, or working for VPA, she’s probably working on The Preface.
“I’ve worked for The Preface for three years now. For the first year, I was the print designer before I transitioned to the web editor position. I hope to stay with The Preface through the rest of my time in college,” she said.
Having worked as the editor-in-chief for Penn High School’s literary magazine, Spectrum, she discovered The Preface during the first week of her sophomore year.
“Joining The Preface has probably been one of the best opportunities and experiences I’ve had in my time here at IUSB,” she said. Some of her other favorite parts about IUSB are some of her classes she’s taken, such as a literary editing and publishing course with David Dodd Lee, as well as the connections she’s made with others over the years.
She does have actual downtime here and there of which she takes full advantage.
“I enjoy cooking, watching movies and visiting the East Race with my friends. I also collect vinyl records—both old and new—and all kinds of books,” which she said she intends to read when she has the time, but with working as much as she does, it hasn’t happened as much lately.
“That might sound lackluster to others,” she said, “but I actually love my work.”
Her advice to others: “Invest in a career you love – one that’s meaningful to you. You spend almost as many of your waking hours at work as you do at home. Make it well worth the time spent.”
