Crossing the stage at graduation and receiving one’s hard-earned degree often marks the beginning of a new stage in students’ lives. These post-graduate years act as a blank slate for endless possibilities, and can be a time for taking risks and pursuing new passions. 

For Penn State alumna Kennedy White, this stage of her life meant taking a leap of faith to chase her lifelong dream of becoming a published author.

Graduating from Penn State in 2023 with a degree in public relations, White has always possessed a unique passion for storytelling and creative writing. To ensure that she never forgets a good idea for a potential story, White has made a habit of jotting down any thoughts or story plots that cross her mind. She shared how these seemingly mindless entries she collected over the years slowly transformed into her first published children’s book, titled “I Am Who I Am.” 

“I’ve always loved reading and writing, ever since I was young. It’s been a very important part of my life, and I always write down any thoughts I have in a document,” White said. “During college, around my sophomore year, I had written this story down. A year or two later, I had the idea that maybe something could really come out of it.” 

The overall theme of White’s story is that anyone can make their dreams come true with the right determination, passion, and persistence. Her book seeks to encourage the younger generation to dream big and understand that they have the tools within themselves to achieve any goal they set their minds to.

Taking a page out of her own book, White began pursuing her dreams of transforming her original story into a fully printed product. Collaborating with a local publisher and illustrator, White quickly became aware of the intricacies and logistics of designing a book. From deciding on font sizes, color palettes, and finalizing illustrations, she learned that there is much more to becoming an author than simply putting words on the page. 

“Deciding on different illustrations, picking specific fonts, or even determining the placement of the words on the page was something I didn’t really think about going into the publishing process,” said White. “I was just mostly thinking about the words I was writing and the language behind everything, so I did not know how much work and effort was going to go into the design aspect of my story.” 

While the book’s vibrant illustrations and clever rhyme schemes are catered to children, White’s writing can still resonate with readers beyond her target audience. Prioritizing diversity within her illustrations allows all readers to see themselves represented, as the theme of following one’s dreams transcends all ages, backgrounds, and identities.  

“My plan for the book was to show different people from all walks of life in different careers. I really wanted to focus on representation, and being able to read the book and see yourself,” explained White. “I also wanted anyone of any age to read the book and relate to it. More so, my book is not just illustrations, but a story that, when someone reads it, they feel inspired. I wanted my parents or anyone of an older generation to read my story and still resonate with the words.”

After months of working closely with her publisher and illustrator, White published her book on Amazon this past July. Since then, she has spent much of her time in the local State College community, traveling to bookstores, libraries, and even her mother’s own preschool classroom to promote her book and share her story. White highlighted how forming new connections with fellow authors and readers has been extremely rewarding, and how she is actively fulfilling her goal of creating a positive impact through storytelling.

“I’ve had such an overwhelming sense of support that I did not think was possible. My mom is a preschool teacher, so it was a full circle moment for me to be able to go back and read my book to her now. She has one student who now always talks about the book and says, ‘I want to read the Kennedy book.’ It’s amazing that I can see people actually resonating with the message,” said White. “I always knew growing up that there were two things I wanted to do: communicate for a living and impact my community. My goal was always to make an impact.”

Creating impact and effectively communicating with others is not exclusive to White’s endeavors as a published author, but also relates to her current position in Penn State’s Division of Development and Alumni Resources. In her role in the Office of Annual Giving, White meets with alumni and donors from across the country to help identify opportunities for giving back to the Penn State community. She explained how the position seamlessly merges her passions for communication and fostering change, as she helps amplify the support provided to Penn State students. 

“In my current role, I travel the country and visit with alumni, parents, donors, and get to hear their stories and their connection to Penn State. I help find ways for them to re-engage with the university, whether that’s through mentoring, volunteerism, or connecting people to create scholarships,” White explained. “As someone who received scholarships during my time at school, I know how important it was. To be able to talk to donors and create those kinds of scholarships for students makes my work very meaningful and important to me.”

With her next children’s book already in the works, White is steadfast in working toward her eventual goal of becoming a full-time author. 

Despite writing her book with the hope of inspiring children, White’s writing has actually inspired an unintended audience: herself. Echoing in her head every step of the way, White’s written words remind her that with determination and grit, she can achieve anything she sets her mind to. 

“When I had the idea for the book, it followed a girl, and when I first wrote it, I really saw myself as a little girl. I think this book was almost like a message to myself,” said White. “For a while, I really doubted myself, especially during college, because I didn’t know what I wanted to do in life. I just felt there was more out there, and this book was a letter to myself that, if I really do believe in it, I can make it happen.”