Resiliency, Peace and Empowerment
Through relationships with professors, editing the student newspaper, studying abroad and singing with the choir, Katie Beedy ’18 has found inspiration.
Katie Beedy ’18, Moorhead
What are you involved with on campus?
I’m editor-in-chief of The Concordian, I sing alto in The Concordia Choir, I’m on the It’s On Us committee, and I was also an Orientation Leader.
Did you have any favorite professors or courses?
Dr. Kirsten Theye and Dr. Cindy Larson-Casselton are two professors who are also two of my biggest inspirations. My favorite classes were ones taught by Kirsten Theye because I feel I can relate to her so much as a professor. I love her teaching style because she stays really close to the textbook and she encourages us to connect the content to the real world. My favorite individual course was through the Credo program called Body Politics taught by Dr. Michelle Lelwica. It was about how society perceives bodies: female bodies, disabled bodies, fat bodies. The course is entirely discussion based, so it allowed me to explore the topic deeply.
Tell us about your experience working at The Concordian.
One of my favorite things about writing for The Concordian is getting to meet with so many people on campus that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise. When I became editor of the paper, I realized it was an entirely different beast. As the editor, if something is wrong in the paper I’m the one to answer for that – it has taught me resilience. I love leading staff meetings, brainstorming story ideas and helping people problem solve.
Why is choir at Concordia important to you?
I grew up in the area and remember seeing The Concordia Choir and, at the time, I knew it was this big, amazing, incredible thing. In high school, I was in choir but I wasn’t emotionally connected to it, so when I joined Cantabile my first year with Dr. Culloton it was the highest caliber of music I had ever performed and a close community that I never had before. It changed the way I felt about choir. The next two years, I performed in the Chapel Choir.
When I didn’t make it into The Concordia Choir my freshman year, I was told to keep working at it and take voice lessons. I began taking lessons from Dr. Nash, who taught me so much about my voice. Every time I am in her office it’s more than a lesson – it’s a heart to heart.
When I auditioned for The Concordia Choir again at the end of my junior year, I was the first alto picked! It is one of my best memories I had at Concordia. Being in The Concordia Choir is the best ever because I knew that from 4:30-6 every day all I had to think about was the music we were making and the wonderful people around me. It relieved so much anxiety for me. I would get goose bumps because we would make sounds that are so beautiful. Dr. Clausen is the kindest, warmest man I think I’ve ever met. He is so open with the choir and is willing to talk about his emotions. He creates an atmosphere where we can be vulnerable with the music and with each other.
Tell us about your Peace Scholar experience.
I never really considered it was something that I could do. I thought it was only for political science or global studies majors. But I applied anyway and ended up studying in Norway for a summer as one of Concordia’s Peace Scholars.
When I was in Body Politics with Dr. Michelle Lelwica, I did a research project on modern-day rape culture and biblical narrative. Studying violence against women became a passion of mine. So, when I went to Norway, that became my take on peace – counteracting that violence.
I took two classes there, a Peace Scholar seminar and a course on gender equality in the Nordic countries. I met so many people I love and miss so much. I also did so much traveling independently.
Grace Hoffa was the other Concordia Peace Scholar that summer. She is the most confident and independent woman I have ever met. We became a lot closer during the seven weeks we spent together.
Why did you start Feminism Club on campus?
My sophomore year, I started Feminism Club with my roommate Natalie Dulka and Rachel McCloud after a talk we had about how there wasn’t an option to talk about feminism formally on campus. We have had various events, including a talk on sexuality and a supply drive for the YWCA.
What do you do to relieve stress?
I like to bake! Baking has been my No. 1 stress reliever – specifically, banana bread. It’s gotten to the point where my friends and family notice me making it and they’ll say, “What’s wrong? Do you need to talk?” I also love to read. I think one of the most exciting things about graduating is to have more time to read for me again.
What are you doing following graduation?
I am applying to all sort of jobs because I have such a flexible major. One I really want is a communication project manager position for a Minnesota nonprofit. I want to use the writing skills that I have to serve a cause I am passionate about.
In my dream job, I could take two different paths. I either want to be Kirsten Theye – I could see myself being a professor like her because I like being in front of people and I love the professor-student relationship – or I would want to open and run a bookstore and coffee shop.