#PittsburghMe: Meet English/Creative Writing Major Jake Owens Student Profile

At the time, I was pursuing a degree in photojournalism. Point Park has this ability to put you right in the field that you aspire to be working in. I have a friend from high school who attended Point Park while I was picking a school. I saw her work go into various publications, both University and city-wide, and I decided that was the sort of real-world environment I wanted to be in. 

My decision to switch majors came after a lot of deliberation. I'd been struggling to find interest in my journalistic writing classes as well as in my photojournalism work for quite some time. I was also going through a really rough personal matter and I turned to creative writing as a coping mechanism. I had written creatively in high school, and in my transition to college I'd forgotten what it meant to me. My interest was reignited and I felt more excited about writing than I had about anything in a long time. That's when I decided the switch would be best for me! 

My personal favorite is from the top of a parking garage on the Boulevard of the Allies in South Oakland. It’s the perfect place to get a beautiful view of Oakland, South Side and the Downtown skyline. 

I had never lived on my own before college. Living in a city like Pittsburgh has taught me how to navigate better. I have a better sense of direction, I’m more independent, and I’ve become very comfortable with the idea of exploring the city. 

It’s hard to define one single memory as the best. My time at Point Park has given me some the best friends I’ve ever had. However, one of my favorite memories is from the first week of the fall semester my freshman year. I finished class, got a coffee, and walked to Point State Park to do some homework. As I sat alone working, I realized that life had finally brought me here. I was a full-time student, studying something I love and searching for independence. It was an impactful moment. 

Keep an open mind, don’t be afraid to talk to anyone and everyone, and be prepared to work hands on in your field of study! Point Park offers an opportunity to experience a liberal arts university in a city as comfortable as Pittsburgh.