COMMUNITY STORIES: CHERISH PARKER
I lived here until I was around fifteen years old. I have a lot of wonderful memories from growing up there, especially the friendships and sense of community that shaped much of my childhood.
Since then, I've moved to Chester, South Carolina, and while I don't know as many people in the area, I've come to enjoy spending time downtown and exploring local shops and restaurants whenever friends come to visit.
Instead, I'm grateful for each chapter of my life and the people I've met along the way. Every place I've lived has given me different experiences, memories, and perspectives that have helped shape who I am today.
As I weighed my options, I found myself thinking about what I wanted my college experience to look like—not just academically, but personally as well. I wanted a place where I could challenge myself creatively, become involved on campus, and feel like I was part of a supportive community. And so, the combination of Winthrop's design program, welcoming environment, and proximity to home made it feel like the right choice.
My time at Winthrop has allowed me to build meaningful friendships, become involved in organizations like Student-Made, and grow not only as a designer but also as a person.
Every experience there has helped shape who I am and who I hope to become, and I know the lessons, relationships, and experiences I've gained here will continue to guide me long after graduation.
I can't imagine a life where I'm not creating, so I knew I wanted to pursue a field that would allow me to build a career around that passion. I also love that design has the ability to communicate ideas, solve problems, and make a meaningful impact on people's lives, which is what ultimately drew me to the field.
Especially since most of my personal work is illustrative. And while I certainly considered it, I ultimately decided that Graphic Design was the better fit because I wanted to broaden my artistic skills, explore more career opportunities, and eventually work toward becoming a creative director on a variety of projects.
At the same time, I also wanted to keep illustration as something I genuinely love doing for myself—whether that's writing and illustrating comics, working on personal projects, or taking on occasional freelance work—and keeping those creative outlets somewhat separate helps me preserve my passion for illustration while allowing graphic design to challenge me in new ways.
I've held the role since the beginning of the spring semester. My primary responsibility is to create a welcoming community for our creators where they feel encouraged, supported, and excited to share their work.
This includes writing our weekly CREATE announcements, organizing and hosting branch meetings, promoting events and opportunities, and helping creators stay informed and connected.
I also work closely with the rest of the manager team to support pop-ups, outreach efforts, and initiatives that help our community continue to grow.
I wanted to be a part of supporting student creators and building a creative community on campus. As I became more involved, I realized I wanted to contribute more by helping to create opportunities for others to connect, grow, and share their work, and joining the manager team felt like the natural next step.
It has taught me the value of collaboration and community, and one of the most fulfilling parts of my role has been watching creators become more involved, seeing new friendships form, and helping make Student-Made a welcoming place for both new and returning members.
I'm more than grateful to be part of a team that's as passionate as Student-Made about helping others succeed, and I'm excited to see how our community grows.
Beyond giving me opportunities to develop professionally, it has introduced me to an incredibly supportive community of creators who inspire me every day and contribute to something that helps other students pursue their creative passions, as well as my own.
It's helped shape not only the kind of designer I hope to become, but also the kind of leader I want to be as well. So for that, I'm so incredibly thankful to be a part of its journey.
One of my long-term goals is to become a creative director, and my experience as Community Engagement Manager has shown me just how much I enjoy bringing people together, organizing projects, and helping others succeed. So, although the specific responsibilities may look different in the future, I hope to continue working in roles where I can not only create meaningful work myself but also help others bring their ideas to life.
It has helped me develop skills that I know will continue to benefit me throughout my career. From organizing events and communicating with creators to collaborating with campus partners and managing projects, I've learned how important organization, adaptability, and clear communication are when working with a team.
It's taught me to step outside my comfort zone, take initiative, and approach challenges with confidence. Whether I pursue graphic design, creative direction, or another leadership role within the creative industry, I know the experiences and relationships I've built through Student-Made will continue to shape the way I lead, collaborate, and create for years to come. And for that, I am beyond grateful.
