Student’s graphic-design skills led to T-shirt collection, newfound academic interest
Sophomore Jordan Lundquist likely has the largest T-shirt collection of anyone on campus.
He claims that simple cotton tees are “basically all I wear,” and he keeps them stacked in two neat piles in his dresser. He even owns a professional Sheldon Cooper T-Shirt Folder, a contraption that helps him keep his collection in tip-top shape.
“I just think T-shirts are so cool, because rather than any other souvenir that you’re just going to hold and look at, then set down, you can put a T-shirt on and wear it around for the day,” Lundquist said. “So when people are wearing a T-shirt from something they’ve done or are involved in, they’re kind of showing a little bit of who they are.”
His wardrobe reveals a lot about who he is. Many of the tees he sports come from various Drake-related events and fundraisers, specifically from his fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega (ATO).
He has one that says “Bears, Beets, and Battlestar Galactica,” which is a quote from the TV show “The Office.”
Most interestingly, though, are the ones he’s designed himself.
“I love doing graphic design, that’s super fun,” Lundquist said. “I do that for Student Activities Board (SAB). It’s kind of like my creative outlet, I guess. I design posters for different events coming up on campus, too.”
Lundquist remembers always loving to draw and color pictures when he was young. When he got older, he took to computers and spent a lot of his time playing around with different programs.
He came to Drake thinking he’d study computer science. As for graphic design, Lundquist had dabbled in the technological art form in recreation, so he added that to his curriculum, too. But once he began taking classes, he said something didn’t feel right.
“I get questions all the time from people like, ‘Wait, you’re not doing graphic design as your major? You’re so good at it!’ But it’s not as fulfilling to me,” said Lundquist. “It’s a skill that I’ll always have, but it’s way more fun now than it ever was when I had it as my major.”
After some soul-searching, he realized his ultimate passion: people. Once his undergraduate years at Drake commence, he plans to go to graduate school for student affairs and higher education.
“It just kind of blends together the enjoyment I have for being involved in activities, but then you’re taking a backseat and a mentorship role, helping students grow and figure things out,” Lundquist said. “College is such a big time for that, and I feel like I’ve learned so much about myself and the world just by being here.”
Lundquist said that after being influenced by people like his fraternity brother, Tom Scearce, interim dean, Jerry Parker and associate provost, Melissa Sturm-Smith, he recognized the educational route he is now taking. He wants to someday work in a university setting, working with and helping people as much as he possibly can.
“I want to make people’s lives better by being a part of them. Even just the smallest things, even friendship, just feeling like they’re enriching my life and I’m enriching theirs,” Lundquist said. “I’m really passionate about involvement and leadership and leaving places and things better than they were when I got there.”
And of course, he’ll keep building up his T-shirt collection.