My name is Taylor Cole, and I’m from Clarinda, Iowa. I’m a senior majoring in communications with a minor in marketing. I serve as a peer mentor and social media intern for University Engagement. I also help lead “Pizza and Jesus,” which meets every Friday, and I’m a United leader at Sunnybrook, a local church in the Morningside area.

I recently joined Morningside’s cross-country and track and field teams, and I’m currently training for a marathon.

I did track in high school, but anyone who knew me growing up knows I hated running. By the end of freshman year here at Morningside, I decided to get in shape. Running became my outlet for de-stressing, and I started running a mile every day, then three to five miles a day, and the opportunity came for me to do a half-marathon, and I fell in love with it. That was just a year ago. 

In the last couple of years, I’ve fallen in love with video design and editing social media for personal platforms, and I’ve been really fortunate to work with a lot of small brands. It’s fun for me on an individual level, and I hope to do it for the rest of my life.   

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, TikTok got really popular. I got into making TikToks. I had a few viral videos my freshman year of college. I was like, “Oh, this is kind of fun. Let’s see how many more views I can get.” That led me to recording day-in-the-life videos and getting more into editing. I took all that love I had formed for social media and started applying it to my work with brands and companies. 

I came to Morningside undecided. I never thought of social media being something I’d do as a career. When I brought up that I was interested in social media, Tasha Goodvin  got me set up with an internship in University Engagement, and that’s when I really started video editing and social media content. That led me to wonder why not make things for my personal account? I started making fun running videos because I wanted to make the content that I love to watch. 

My faith is the biggest part of my life. Freshman year, it was more surface-level, and I wanted to be more involved in my faith. I had been through some medical problems, and I really clung to God. I got really involved with United at Sunnybrook after the college ministry director for United came forward and asked if I had considered working in ministry. I’ve since become super involved with United and even taken charge of their Instagram. I’m combining everything I’m learning here at Morningside with my faith, and that’s so exciting.

I’ve found such a home at Sunnybrook. Getting to work for United and leading other college kids to the Lord has been, honestly, one of the most impactful experiences of my life.