Today we’d like to introduce you to Cecelia Bleeker
Hi Cecelia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hello! Yes, I started my creative journey like most kids, loving the arts, drawing, and participating in creative events.
*Early Education
During my early education, I was passionate about pursuing a career in art or design. My love for traditional art and the desire to create fueled this goal from a young age. However, I had concerns about the high cost of college and how I could nurture my creativity at a young age. This led me to the Early Middle College program.
The Early Middle College program in southwest Michigan allowed high school students to take college classes. I decided to pursue a degree in graphic design at KVCC through this program and I had an amazing experience. The faculty had professional backgrounds, and the new media center was well-equipped. I participated in various design activities such as Design crew and student shows at the Arcus Gallery, and I was fortunate to have impactful professors like Mark De-Young, Susan Teague, and Martin Adams.
*Bachelors
On June 26th, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Informational Technology from ASU. The Starbucks Achievement Plan covered 100% of my tuition and provided me with the opportunity to collaborate with various designers, students, and faculty to acquire skills such as project management, digital marketing, and graphic design. Through my education and employment as a barista, I developed my creative drive in freelance graphic design and marketing.
In 2020, there was a clear shift to the digital space at the peak of COVID-19. Although this was initially surprising, it led to a boom in freelance design opportunities. This inspired me to start my own journey in freelance graphic design and encouraged me to continue pursuing it in various areas such as logo design, marketing, and digital marketing analytics. As of now, I have completed internships with The Global Tech Program and Extern, gaining skills as well as certifications involving digital marketing, including keyword research, competitor analysis, and other related skills.
*What to look forward to
Moving forward, I aim to support local art events and continue my impactful design career. My goal is to work on meaningful projects that help not only my clients but also their community.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As anyone can tell you, there is no linear path to a career goal. What I can say is that you must be prepared and willing to fail. There were multiple instances where I struggled to be consistent, and I even took half of a semester off just to gain my bearings again.
In my experience, the biggest challenges revolved around figuring out where to direct my energy. As a student and young professional, there’s a lot of advice out there about “what you should do,” but few understand the commitment it requires and how to truly distinguish yourself. For me, it meant balancing a part-time job to make ends meet, keeping up with coursework, and squeezing in internships and freelance gigs on the side. It was far from easy, but what kept me going was the belief that the hard work I put in would eventually pay off.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At the moment I specialize in graphic design with a focus on digital marketing, (logos, marketing material, brand image, etc.)
I am most proud of the group work I’ve done through my programs. I enjoyed the group projects involving brand awareness and analysis. But I also have enjoyed the personal work that I have created surrounding social justice, housing , and current issues in Kalamazoo.You can find these on my website and creative instagram.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I feel that, by and large, my journey has not been based on luck. I have always been aware of the financial struggles my family has faced, and over the years, I have made careful decisions to avoid adding unnecessary stress to my parents and loved ones.
However, I can say that I’ve been fortunate to have people who made the process easier, from supportive co-workers and helpful professors. Knowing that they are cheering me on, despite facing their own struggles, has been incredibly inspiring.
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that things won’t always go right the first time. You might struggle in a class or miss out on a client, but your greatest asset lies in turning these “failures” into valuable lessons. Give yourself the time to recharge, and remember that time spent doing nothing is just as important as the time you spend behind an easel, laptop, or notepad. See every experience as a potential project or a wellspring of inspiration, and never stop evolving, learning, and acquiring new skills!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cbleek.myportfolio.com
