Member Monday - Chloe Kasper

She sings, she dances, and loves to write—all three add up to one unique combination, this week’s Member Monday. This freshman has hit the ground running as a public relations major at Illinois State University. Besides being an active member in the ISU Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America Chapter, she is also a writer for Her Campus. In the future, she dreams of working as a publicist in the music industry. Let’s meet Chloe Kasper: a feminist with a minor in Latina studies, full of ambition, and dedicated to the field of public relations.

Tell us about yourself.

I am a freshman majoring in public relations and minoring in Latina studies. I am 19 years old, and my hometown is Chicago Ridge, Ill. In high school, I was involved in many activities, but I was especially involved in show choir, where I was a captain for two years. I served as editor-in-chief for the school newspaper and yearbook. Being a part of those activities taught me so much about leadership. The guidance of classes in high school, activity advisors, friends, and family all led me to where I am today.

What interested you in joining PRSSA?

I started attending ISU last semester, and I love it! I had declared public relations as my major when I applied. When I arrived, I wanted to do everything I could to learn as much about public relations as possible. I also wanted to gain some experience in the field before starting the major-focused classes next school year. Getting involved in ISU PRSSA seemed like the perfect way to accomplish both my goals while still adjusting to campus life and completing my required general education courses.

What else are you involved in on campus?

Along with being a member of ISU PRSSA, I am also a writer for Her Campus Illinois State, which is an online magazine for college women. Writing is one of my passions and being able to do that alongside likeminded college women is absolutely wonderful! I love being able to write about things that are relevant to my life experiences and share that with other college women.

What makes you unique?

I love to sing and dance. I’m the kind of person who starts singing and dancing randomly whenever the opportunity presents itself. I always tell people that if you can talk, you can sing, and if you can move, you can dance! A fun fact about me is that I had the incredible opportunity of performing in Disney World (twice!) with the show choir I was a member of in high school. It was an amazing experience that I will never forget.

What is your greatest motivator?

My support system, which includes my family, friends, and past mentors, are my best motivators. Whenever I am down, they are all just a phone call away to help me through whatever obstacle I am facing. They have all helped me in different ways become the person I am today, and I cannot thank them enough for it.

What sparked your interest in Latina studies? How do you plan on incorporating your minor into your career?

As a Latina who grew up in a household where much of that cultural influence was not present, college offered me a way to immerse myself in learning about the culture. When first picking classes, I chose the Intro to Latin American and Latina/o Studies class offered here, and I absolutely adored it. Once I found out there was a minor focusing on it, there was no looking back!

You mentioned you loved being able to write about women as a woman. Why do you find it important to be involved in women’s rights?

As a feminist, I do truly believe in for what the term stands; As quoted by Chimamanda Angozi Adiche (popularly known through Beyoncé’s song "Flawless"), “A person who believes in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.” In the past, women have been subdued to a status that is not equal to men, and this discrimination continues in some countries today where women are still treated as second class citizens. Having a platform as a writer is a very meaningful thing to me because it shows how far women have come.

Describe your dream job.

I have always been passionate about singing and dancing as well as writing. I am fascinated by social media and the power it has within society. My dream job would be to combine all these into one job as a social media coordinator for a business that has something to do with music, or as a publicist for a major musical sensation. 

Questions composed by Kellian Reed

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