Live & Learn Portraits

photos by Erin Raby

Corey Michalek had an eleven-week internship at Blue Diesel Interactive Design this past summer and worked with companies like Johnson and Johnson. He also is on the verge of getting his drag racing license. Corey has previously worked for Mark Thomas, a seven time IHRA world champion. Mark Thomas won one of his championships while Corey was on his team.

Lashai Hunt is a senior studying video production. She is not the average student. Unlike most of her classmates Lashai did not spend the entirety of her summer working to pay the bills. Instead she spent two weeks more than 8000 miles from home. Those weeks were spent in Malaysia where Lashai traveled as part of a trip with the School of Media Arts and Studies. “A lot of people speak English and are friendly” she said “and everyone is Islamic”. “ It was very different”. The people have the same stuff as we do here but are completely different”. “There are strictly three cultures there; Chinese Malaysian and Indian” Lashai went on to say. “America has more cultural diversity”. Lashai also noted more subtle differences; “it’s a 3rd world country, the fast food is different, the chicken tastes like fish, and you need a license to have a dog”. Lashai left Malaysia before the end of her school trip and returned with many new memories and a newfound appreciation for family. “Family is important,” she told me, “you never know what’s important until it’s gone and you have no way of getting to it”

Shannon Moore is sophomore studying journalism at Ohio University she is a full time student, who doesn’t like getting up early and has a love hate relationship with physical exercise. Shannon Moore wanted to join the Air Force right after high school but was persuaded by her parents to attend college. She chose Scripps school of journalism at Ohio University and was soon a member of the ROTC. It’s a good program,” she said. “I’ve learned to wake up earlier and my time management is better”. Shannon Moore Is up by 5 most days, loves her uniform and is quick to point out that her mirror like shoes got that way through hard work. “I spit on my shoes” she says with a grin. It takes her about an hour of work to get them perfect. The job security offered by ROTC is a big plus for Shannon Moore. Who is looking forward to pursuing her military career far beyond the halls of Ohio University and becoming and becoming a career officer in the United States Air force.

Pablo Nunez, a sophomore studying history, was a part of a drum team this summer, the Capital Regiment from Columbus, which came in fifth in a world competition. He said, “I learned how to push myself. I wrestled, did sports and competitive drumming [in high school] but no matter have hard I busted my ass, this doesn’t even compare.”