Ashlyn Chandler - NMU Blog

I was on a required school trip to a nearby community college that was hosting a college fair. My friends and I had already looked at all the college booths that interested us. I was trying to waste time, so I wandered to the back of the room by the out-of-state schools. I asked if NMU had a softball team and a good art program and I was told yes for both! I took a pamphlet and actually ended up reading it and looking up NMU online. I fell in love with the pictures of the campus and the emphasis on enjoying nature in Marquette. It was a tough decision moving far from home, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

I have always loved art and excelled in it throughout k-12. I was set on being an animator for films in early middle school but switched to Graphic Design in high school due to it being a more common job. 

During the first semester, I had a final assignment to create a “master copy” of an image for my Foundational Drawing class. I wanted to make something I was proud enough to hang in my room, so I made a 12x15 Ferris Bueller’s Day Off movie poster. It was made with graphite pencils, red acrylic paint, and a lot of elbow grease. It took about 17 hours to complete over two days, and it is probably my favorite piece I have ever created!  

The first semester on campus, I was involved with my hall in Student Government and planning events at the beginning of the semester. We held a lot of beach days and game nights! With COVID-19, it was difficult to get to know new people even with events. Yet, being able to do something every once and a while to bring together people was very rewarding. 

Be Northern means embracing Marquette and the people within it, as well as finding yourself through your major, peers, and college experience overall. 

I hope to find an internship/job for Graphic Design through previous alumni from NMU (establish connections) and make it work where I can live in WI (or possibly somewhere else) with my boyfriend who will be looking for a Firefighter/Paramedic position in 2024.

Recognize the balance of doing what you want to right now vs. what you should do so you can feel better later.  

I can’t walk to Superior for a swim at the standard university 50% of my graduating class chose. I can’t go searching the beach for sea glass. I wouldn’t have a million different coffee shops to choose from. I wouldn’t get to see the northern lights. I couldn’t hike a mountain without going on a long trip. I wouldn’t get to meet friends from different places. I wouldn’t have learned how to live far from home. Beginning college in the midst of a pandemic was difficult, but I think made the right choice by attending NMU to do it. 

Hi! My name is Ashlyn Chandler I am a first-year Graphic Design major at NMU. I grew up in Amherst, WI, and graduated with a class of 78. I never expected to leave so far from home for school while I was looking ahead as a kid. I always knew I’d be an artist, though. It’s the one thing I’m passionate about that I can turn into a career, and that can help people in the process! While at NMU, I hope to continue my passion for softball by playing on the intramural team. I have played competitively for 10 years and won two national championships and a state title with my team in Plover, WI.  It is something I have loved since 5 years old, and it has taught me a lot of valuable lessons about teamwork, determination, and dedication. Continuing at NMU, I hope to be successful in my studies, to grow as an artist and discover who I am through my experiences here.