The Call to Creativity
Annie Neal, BA ’24 (advertising), was driving when she got the call from her mom: she had just been accepted into the University of Oregon’s PathwayOregon scholarship program and would be graduating debt-free.
“That was a life-changing experience,” she says. “My mom and I both cried. I could tell she was so proud of me, and I could feel her relief, as well.”
Neal is from Portland and one of many students who would not have been able to pursue higher education had it not been for generous financial aid. In high school, she balanced a tough schedule between competitive dancing, school, and work. But the juggle proved to be worth it when Pathway reached out to her personally with an offer.
“I come from a single-parent household and that created a lot of pressure to perform well academically so that I can have a higher education and pursue my dreams and what I want to be,” Neal explains.
The financial support made her decision to attend the UO easy, but she found herself feeling isolated and unsure of where she fit in during her first term. That led her to reach out to Erica Warren, president of the Black Alumni Network (BAN). Warren advised Neal to get involved and encouraged her to become a student board member with BAN.
“It has shown me that putting myself out there is the best way to get opportunities because people will believe in me when I start to believe in myself first,” Neal says.
It wasn’t the only area in her life where she discovered believing in herself would be a crucial factor in her success. Though her ultimate dream is to become a Creative Director, Neal didn’t think that entrepreneurship would be a path toward that. Last summer, however, she interned with Glad Rags, a women-owned menstrual product company based in Portland. Neal’s promotion to Creative Assistant validated her skills, leading her to found her own freelance business. Through it, she assists brands with photography, social media, and more.
“The experience of being in the real world and seeing that my skills are applicable to actual work that people value has made me more confident in reaching out to other brands within the Eugene area and collaborating with them,” Neal says.
She brings everything back to that first call, crediting the UO and her PathwayOregon and Diversity Excellence scholarships with her leap toward building her career without the fear of debt.
“UO has truly shaped my life in indescribable ways,” Neal says. “Once you get to know the people in the programs such as Pathway, all the advisors truly make you feel like you belong and have a place here ... a place to speak, bring new ideas and creativity ... and make an impact.”
Oregon150 helps students like Neal access transformative experiences within higher education by ensuring they have the holistic support to achieve academic success.