Willie White
William Troy White II, who goes by Willie or Will, is a sophomore double majoring in: Photo Journalism and Musical Theater; from Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Willie decided to go to Creighton after receiving the Diversity Scholarship and visiting the campus many times. Willie joined SSS after he received an e-mail saying “You’re in SSS!” Since being in SSS, Willie has benefited by getting help with practically everything—“The SSS staff saves your day.” Willie has benefited by making “incredible friends”, getting help with financial aid, registering for classes, and just navigating the college life at Creighton.
Willie’s achievements include being selected as a photographer for the Creightonian, receiving the Diversity Scholarship, becoming the Public Relations Officer for the Native American Association, becoming the Public Relations Officer for R.A.I.S.E (Recognizing American Indian Success in Education), participating in the American Indian Summer Institute for Native American students interesting in filmmaking—which took place in LA, and making great friendships with incredible people at Creighton.
This past school year has been a year of self-discovery for Willie. It was this year that his passion for theater and his passion for music came into fruition. Finding out that Creighton offered a major in Musical Theater, Willie decided that this major fit the direction he wants to pursue in his life. Yet, his love for filmmaking and “playing” with a video camera “is still burning bright”; and he plans on continuing to pursuing that dream, through the Photo Journalism major Creighton offers.
An exciting event that Willie experienced since being at Creighton was going on the Diversity Retreat, offered through Campus Ministry. “It was an incredible experience… to let go of all the worlds’ troubles, and focus on being a kid again; which was the theme of the retreat.”
When not studying, Willie spends his time behind a piano, trying to “re-figure it out.” When Willie was younger, he had the opportunity to take Piano lessons; but since has moved away from the piano, so “now I’m trying to re-learn everything again, because that passion of play this incredible instrument is back and it feels great.” Willie does not claim to be a good pianist in anyway. “I’m still learning, and not ready for any such title.” One of his most prized possessions is his iPod Touch, “It holds my music, and I can’t live without it. Plus it was signed by my favorite band ever, Paramore. So it’s pretty much priceless.” If you flip through his iPod and check out his music selection, you will find that it is very diverse. “I mainly listen to indie-type music. Music with that acoustic guitar-flare, or piano; where you can feel the emotions they are singing. I love that kind of music, but I also love everything… music is an art form that comes in many different colors and it’s beautiful.”
The most fun Willie has ever had is “yet to be determined”. He is annoyed by “nothing in particular. I feel that we all have annoyances, but I try to work through them and realize the bigger picture.” His least favorite word is “math”, and one of his embarrassing moments was when he ran into a glass door at a shopping center, “I wasn’t paying attention to what was in front of me. I knew my mom was in front of me, so I assumed that she was holding the door open for me, unfortunately she wasn’t. All the employees at the registers and the customers broke out laughing. I received no support from my mom either, she laughed as well.” Willie loves the feeling of wind on a hot summer day, and likes the idea of dreaming ridiculous dreams. If he could be an animal, Willie said he would be an “Easter Bunny because they are fluffy.” The most exciting place Willie has ever been is “LA!!!”
Willie’s favorite quote and the best advice he has heard, comes from one of his favorite screen actors, Will Smith… “He says, ‘Don't stop dreaming ridiculous dreams! Being realistic is the most common road traveled towards mediocrity’.”