If you’ve picked up a copy of the Carroll News recently, you’d surely recognize the name Alexandra Higl. Even if you haven’t (though you definitely should), you probably know it anyway, because this girl has made a huge impact at JCU in her past three years on campus. I was lucky enough to get the chance to sit down with Alex this week and talk about her amazing time at John Carroll.
First things first, let’s talk Carroll News.
“The Carroll News is the weekly, award-winning newspaper for John Carroll University,” says Alex. “We are actually one of the most diverse campus papers, in terms of our coverage and the sections that are included in the paper. Our paper really tries to be accessible for everyone on campus.” And it does just that. With everything from Campus News to Sports to World News, the Carroll News covers a wide variety of topics and articles. It truly has something to offer every member of the JCU community and beyond.
Alex began her involvement in the Carroll News during freshman year when her advisor told her she should attend a meeting. “When I walked into the newsroom, I knew I had found my home at John Carroll. I know that sounds cheesy, but it’s totally true,” says Alex. She started to write for Arts and Life, and then would go on to become the Arts and Life editor the following year. “That’s when I fell in love with journalism; there’s just something amazing about taking blank pages and breathing life into them,” explains Alex.
Last year, she was selected to become Editor-in-Chief of the Carroll News, and she has a lot of wonderful goals and ideas for the future of the paper. One that she has already implemented is the redesign of the front page. “We wanted to focus on redesign this year as it has been at least a decade since the Carroll News has seen any change in its design, and we also are starting to expand our digital presence,” says Alex.
Beyond her role at the Carroll News, Alex is still extremely involved on and off campus.
Outside of her work for the Carroll News, Alex has made other strides in the world of journalism. She is a columnist for the Northeast Ohio Media Group, and she is specifically published every week in the Sun News. She is also the President of the Society of Professional Journalists at JCU.
But not only does she give back to the community through writing; she’s also committed to service. Alex is an Arrupe Scholar, helped chair Danie’s Day, is the head of the Caring for Kids Committee, and participates in weekly service.
When she’s not writing or doing service, Alex is a spinning instructor at JCU and the YMCA. She also loves to act and sing, and she has been featured as a lead in many of John Carroll’s major theatre productions throughout the past three years. I’m not sure how she has time to breathe with all of the activities she’s involved in, but I can say that she truly is an amazing asset to the John Carroll community.
And the inevitable discussion: post-grad plans.
“I’m not exactly sure what I want to do yet. I do want to work in writing, research, PR, or Advertising. Journalism is a difficult field to break into, and I recognize that. Whatever I do, I want to be happy. I want to wake up and love going to work. So, when I choose my job or career, I am going to choose what I will love at the end of the day,” explains Alex about her post-college goals. No matter what she ends up doing, I’m sure she will do it wonderfully. And her thoughts on the job search are something every one of us should remember.
If you haven’t checked out the Carroll News yet this year, be sure to pick up this week’s issue! Also, take a look at their website, http://www.jcunews.com/, for online versions of the articles.