My name is Journey Newbold, and I’m a freshman communications major at Taylor University. I’ve always been passionate about bringing people together through meaningful experiences, which is why I’m drawn to event planning and project leadership. I love the idea of creating spaces where people can connect, collaborate, and grow, whether it’s through a conference, a community initiative, or a special celebration. My passion for event planning has been shaped by hands-on experience working at The Sixpence wedding venue in Whitestown, Indiana. During my time there, I had the opportunity to see firsthand how meticulous planning, teamwork, and creative problem-solving come together to create unforgettable events. I assisted in coordinating various aspects of weddings and special occasions, from setting up beautiful events to ensuring seamless event flow and guest satisfaction. This experience taught me the importance of attention to detail, adaptability under pressure, and the value of clear communication between clients, vendors, and event staff. Seeing the joy on a couple’s face when everything comes together perfectly reinforced my love for this work and my desire to create moments that people cherish for a lifetime. Additionally, my experience at Klipsch Marketing and Advisors gave me valuable insight into the strategic side of event planning and project management. I was able to work on branding, promotions, and logistics for events, gaining a deeper understanding of how marketing plays a crucial role in an event’s success. Whether it was assisting with promotional materials, coordinating client needs, or learning how to effectively manage timelines and budgets, this experience strengthened my ability to think critically and approach projects with a business-minded perspective. I also developed a greater appreciation for the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into making an event not only visually appealing but also impactful and goal-driven. By honing my skills as an event planner, I aim to make a positive impact by organizing events that inspire, educate, and unite people. I want to develop strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication abilities to manage projects efficiently and ensure every detail contributes to a greater purpose. Event planning is more than just logistics to me—it’s about fostering connections and making a lasting impression on those involved. I’m especially excited about learning how to adapt to different challenges, think creatively, and lead teams with confidence. My goal is to use these skills to serve communities, support important causes, and create experiences that leave a meaningful impact on people's lives.

My academic goals include graduating from high school with no lower than a 3.6 GPA and receiving a college prep diploma from my high school, Heritage Christian School. After high school, I want to attend Taylor University to major in Organizational Communications and minor in Entrepreneurship. My biggest career dream is to own a beautiful, modern barn and castle venue in Saint Joseph, Michigan. I would like to own a venue that is a perfect mix of pleasing to look at, well-serviceable, and multi-functional space for people to host their events. In addition to this, I have a goal to become a very successful event planner and possibly own an event planning business as well. My friends and family have been so supportive of my dream and they have inspired me by encouraging me to plan whatever events or parties they would have. My mom in particular was extremely supportive by allowing me to have as many parties as I could plan in the year. I also did an internship at a wedding venue called The Sixpence in Zionsville, Indiana. Being an intern here helped me to identify one of the biggest reasons why I want to be an event planner. I was to specialize in weddings because there are too many brides who underestimate how difficult planning a wedding truly is. I am a person who loves the small details. There are not a lot of people like this. This is why I want to be a wedding planner I can assist the brides who take planning for granted so that their day is as special as it possibly can be. Another reason as to why I want to be a wedding planner is so I can help shift the focus of the wedding back onto the marriage itself, instead of the ceremony or reception. Too often in our society today people take marriages for granted. A lot of people want the wedding with the flowers, and the gorgeous white dress, but they forget the whole reason there is even a wedding in the first place. I want to help re-center couple’s attention on God, their marriages, and how this day can just be a stepping stone into the rest of their lives together, and not just the finish line. To sum it all up, my family and friends have always been supportive of my dreams to move to Saint Joseph, build a venue, and grow the business from there. Graduating from a college, especially from Taylor University, is so important to me because it would be a very beneficial step toward my career dreams. Majoring in communications would help my skills in public speaking, interacting with clients and coworkers, as well as how I can get the mission statement of my business across. In addition to that, minoring in entrepreneurship would be extremely helpful for me when it comes to starting my business. I would learn the best ways to handle money, people, and conflicts as well. A college education is a very important step for me when it comes to achieving my academic and career goals.