About
Alana Deckov
The statement, “Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine,” represents me because it reflects the way I choose to approach life. I am a naturally optimistic person who looks for the good in every situation, even when things do not go as planned. Although I haven’t always been this positive. Growing up, my anxiety led me to miss the best parts of life. Going into college with a bubble around me caused negativity and bad days. That’s when I knew that to remain joyful, I had to change my mindset. To me, bringing your own sunshine means choosing to be a source of positivity and encouragement no matter what comes your way. My whole life, I wanted to be sure that I showed care for people. I look for the good in people and believe that everyone has something special to offer. From my experience, it takes time for people to discover who they truly are. I believe I’m a supportive friend because I genuinely want to see the people around me succeed in their passions. Although I am only 21 years old and have already learned so much about myself, I can’t wait to become wiser and older so I can share my experiences. Being this positive does not mean that I never experience difficult days. I believe that even during the sad times, it always goes up from there. I try to see the good and remind myself that challenges can create opportunities to learn and become a stronger person. Just like sunshine can
brighten a cloudy day, I hope my attitude can brighten the days of the people around me! These experiences have shaped the person I am today, and the person I hope to be in my professional future looks even brighter. I would describe myself as positive, driven, dedicated, creative, and compassionate. Positivity makes me choose to look for the good. Not only that, but I radiate that feeling around me so others can learn and apply that same energy. I set goals for myself and push myself over the limit to try to reach them. Being driven can be draining, yet so rewarding, which brings me to an important word. The word I relate to the most is dedicated. I dedicate my time to things that I’ve been passionate about my whole life. I pour my entire heart into things that matter to me. I express my creativity through the things I am passionate about because I enjoy finding unique ways to express myself. Thinking outside the box and coming up with ideas that are original and different from what has already been done is important in today’s world, especially since AI has stolen creative thinking. Being creative allows me to take an idea in my head and turn it into something authentic. I believe I’m compassionate because I genuinely care about the people around me who are driven and dedicated to their work as well. These qualities are not only important in my personal life but also in my professional life. As someone studying marketing and pursuing a career where creativity and communication are important, I want to be able to connect with people genuinely. In my older teen years, high school was miserable for me. It was rare to have a good day without bad things happening. Perhaps it was because I wasn’t outgoing, or because of my bad mindset, but I realized negativity was keeping me from great experiences. This is when I knew I needed to change. Going into college, I was extremely anxious. But as my introvert bubble popped, I met so many new friends, and the most important thing was that I learned and changed. My personality has also shaped the professional identity I want to build. As a marketing major, I have always been drawn to creativity, communication, and understanding what motivates people. I enjoy creating new ideas and finding a connection to them with others to build a professional relationship. Whether it’s self branding, social media, or creating content, I aspire for my work to make people feel rewarded and leave an impression.
Outside of school and my future career in marketing, I have always been passionate about my interests. Two things I enjoy are makeup and photography. Being able to take an idea in my head and turn it into a perfect, finalized project is what I strive for. Makeup allows me to express myself through beauty, while photography allows me to capture moments and people creatively. These hobbies have helped me develop skills that I can carry into other areas of my life. I have learned how important communication is when working with other people, as well as how to adapt when things do not go exactly as planned. Problem-solving, trying new things, and finding different ways to connect with people are skills I hope to continue developing throughout my personal and professional life. I have several years of experience in the marketing field already, which makes me ready to step into the advertising world. I have been a Secretary and Social Media Coordinator for GVSU Pompon, a Photographer for my internship at Camp Blodgett, as well as improving their social media presence. Although I’m only 21 years old and have already learned so much about myself, I have changed significantly from the person I was in high school, which has only been four years. Letting negative experiences affect my life allowed me to look at the challenges as opportunities to grow. I want to become a strong professional who is confident in my abilities, leads others, and encourages the people around me. I have seen many friends, co-workers, and classmates change their personal brand in my life, so I must remember to remain my authentic self. Bringing my own light has been a promise I have made to myself. I cannot change the difficult experiences I had in high school or the anxiety that once held me back, but I can choose and apply what I learned from those experiences. They taught me to appreciate the people I meet, the opportunities I have, and the person I am still becoming. I recognize I will continue to face rough days since life works in mysterious ways, but I no longer see those days as something that has to define me. I hope to use everything I have learned to encourage others to step outside their own bubbles and discover what they are capable of. Wherever my future takes me, I want my personality to shine and hopefully brighten the days of the people around me.