Permanent link for A Non-Linear Path & Practice In Vulnerability on January 26, 2021

What started out as a final thesis for graduation; transitioned into a practice of vulnerability to allow one’s self to reflect for internal growth.

Ivy Baillie is a Grand Valley State University 2020 Integrative studies graduate. Her collegiate journey has been self-proclaimed as “unconventional” with taking her time to find herself and rediscover her passion for writing. Six years of twists and turns to ultimately return to creative writing and complete her degree. In Ivy’s words, “For me, school in general was never a linear path- school has been a foil to where I am at in my life.”

Ivy’s journey started like many after high school. She went to college right away and chose a creative studies program in Detroit for her freshman year. Things changed for her with a decision to return to Traverse City to finish an associate at Northwestern Michigan College in freshwater studies. Still not aligning with her true passion, Ivy took time off from school.

Many of her friends were finishing college and graduating. Ivy enjoyed high school and was a dedicated student but found herself in a difficult and unknown time in her life. Feeling defeated and not knowing what life path to take next, she decided to explore educational options.

Somewhere along the way she was introduced to the GVSU Integrative Studies Program available through the GVSU Traverse City Regional Center.

At that time Ivy met her now faculty advisor and future professor, Kate Fairman. Ivy had an honest conversation about where she was at and felt an immediate connection with Kate.

Three years ago, Ivy made the big decision to re-start school at GVSU part-time. She was able to have her feet in both worlds, school, and work life. Fall of 2019 Ivy committed a full-time year and summer to finish her last classes and gain her Integrative Studies Degree. She reflected, “I am really excited and didn’t think I was going to be able to finish. I had written my degree off and was so glad to get back to school through the support of GVSU.”

Not only did Ivy complete her Integrative Studies Degree but she graduated with an award-winning final project thesis.

Ivy received the highly esteemed 3^rd annual Stanley Krohmer Award, which is a selected final senior project that embodies all that Stan is, especially his creative spirit. Her final project was selected by her professors as the strongest project, amongst her colleagues in Traverse City and Grand Rapids. 

Typically, the winner provides an in-person presentation during the award ceremony to discuss their final senior project, however this year was a virtual event. Please enjoy the short overview video of Ivy’s presentation below and we encourage you to watch the full presentation here.

Ivy’s final project was meant to be fully engrained in what she loves, creative writing. Through this process she came across two pieces of literature that became the inspiration around her final thesis. Ivy found her old journals from high school along with a chapbook collection of poems written by Brady Bell. While on campus in Detroit her freshman year, Brady’s friend gifted Brady’s Chapbook to her. Brady had passed away and his friends wanted to showcase his writing to honor who he was.  Although Ivy never had the opportunity to meet Brady in person, she dedicated her thesis to Brady Bell and what he taught her through his writing.

Ivy found a lot of comfort in his writing as he laid himself out on paper for all to see. His writings invigorated Ivy’s joy and directed a path for her thesis, understanding more about identity. Ivy had been struggling with her own identity for many years and this was the breakthrough she needed to further extend herself and honor Brady’s literature.

Through the reflection of Brady’s writings and her own journals, Ivy took a deeper dive not only into identity but vulnerability in her own writings with a scholarly view of identity and amateur literature. She focused on self-branding, authenticity, relationship with the author, poetry, and ultimately creating her own Chapbook.

When Ivy found she was the Stanley Krohmer Award winner she felt she was being hypocritical of her own work by omitting some uncomfortable vulnerability of her own struggle with substance abuse and other identity questions. Ivy wrote her own chapbook that consisted of a piece of writing from each of her journal entries to retrace each year since high school, which she has not only courageously shared with her friends and family, but also made available on her website at Ivybaillie.com. Her website also took shape as she wants to transition to a freelance writer now that she has graduated.

Ivy wanted to extend a big thanks to Kate Fairman as her most influential GVSU faculty member. Without her guidance and encouragement, she would not have found the program nearly as enriching. In Ivy’s words, “Kate is a very gentle soul and never tough love but just loving and makes you feel seen. I totally cherish her, her spark, and her hands-off approach to feel like you were standing beside her and not behind her. Kate is a Wonder Woman I was lucky enough to have as a faculty advisor and a professor of 5 classes- the most one on one person for me at GVSU.”

Ivy’s final piece of advice, “I would have wanted to do away with the expectation of what you think extended education should be and accept it for what it is. Embrace the journey. The pressure that you might put on yourself to get through school is unnecessary.”

If you’d like to discover options for continued adult education that fits with your passion and current lifestyle, take a look at our online accelerated bachelors degree for adults and speak with our advisors. 

 

Posted on Permanent link for A Non-Linear Path & Practice In Vulnerability on January 26, 2021.