Ad Creative Grad, Kyra Dutkiewicz, Says “Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable”
By: Chloe Hargreaves
“Get comfortable being uncomfortable because growth happens when you challenge yourself the most,” said Kyra Dutkiewicz, spring 2025 advertising creative and graphic design graduate.
For Dutkiewicz, this mindset has been vital to her success in the advertising creative industry. Not only in the classroom but in gaining confidence needed to thrive in this field.
Creativity runs in her family. Her mother is a creative director at Liggettville ropes course and her grandmother is an artist in their hometown. She has always been inspired to be creative, and it quickly became a true passion of hers. When she chose advertising creative as her major, she says it immediately felt like the perfect fit.
For students in the advertising creative major, the future is filled with opportunities for creative growth and developing professional skills. Dutkiewicz shares valuable advice for underclassmen who are looking to thrive throughout their career.
“Start your resume right away, anything you create, add it to your portfolio,” said Dutkiewicz.
Dutkiewicz admits that she started building her resume and portfolio too late, which made the process more stressful than it needed to be. She now encourages others to begin assembling their resumes and portfolios as soon as possible.
Whether it is a class project or freelance work, building a portfolio early can help when applying to internships or jobs.
She also says one of the most impactful habits students can develop is consistently being present in class.
“Go to class; showing up makes a difference and professors will notice that you are showing up,” said Dutkiewicz.
Dutkiewicz explains that consistently being in class allowed her to build strong relationships with professors. Some of these professors have sent her emails with internship and entry-level job opportunities. Through these connections, she says she has found several opportunities to apply for internships she would not have known about.
“Networking has been a huge part of my college experience. It helped me make connections with my professors. It has given me opportunities outside of the classroom,” said Dutkiewicz.
Dutkiewicz says her biggest growth came from when she put herself in spontaneous situations. Whether it was leading a group project or presenting her work in front of professionals, each of these moments pushed her out of her comfort zone which allowed her to build confidence.
Dutkiewicz encourages underclassmen to embrace discomfort as a part of growth. She said she believes that those challenging moments are where progress is made.