By Gracie Fairfax | Echo
Judy Kirkwood grew up right next door to Taylor in Upland, Ind. She is a Taylor graduate, a loving mother and grandmother. If Kirkwood could have one food for the rest of her life, it would be chocolate, without a doubt. As Christmas comes ever closer, Judy looks forward to hearing her favorite Christmas song, "O Holy Night," and watching her favorite Christmas movie, "White Christmas." Currently she is on staff at Taylor as the program assistant for the communications department and is always hard at work with a smile on her face.
What do you love most about your job?
I love getting to interact with the students on a daily basis. I work more with theater students than anyone else, and just being able to see them behind the scenes as well as on stage and getting to know them personally.
What do you love about TU?
It really gets overused, but I think the word community comes to mind. We all get tired of hearing it, but I think it's true. There is something different about this setting that you don't find in other schools and other areas or walks of life: the true caring for one another and being there for one another.
What do you love about TU students?
I love the genuineness. Being able to get to know the students and feel like we're really a part of their lives, that we're not just in a working relationship where the faculty and staff are up here and the students are down here. It's more of a one-on-one equal friendship relationship.
What do you like the least about your job?
Paperwork. It does pile up.
What can you tell us about your family?
I am married and I have two adult daughters and two granddaughters. I live in Marion and my oldest is married and lives in Noblesville, Ind. She works at Riverview Hospital. My younger daughter lives with us and she works full time and is taking classes. She has two daughters who also live with us. The little ones are involved in sports so we like to go to their practices and games.
I grew up in Upland as a professor's kid. I graduated from Taylor, got married and became a stay-at-home mom. I then worked as our church secretary before returning to Taylor as the publicity coordinator for theatre and the Performing Artist Series. When Carol Owen retired as the program assistant for communication and media communication, I took over the responsibilities as the program assistant for the department.
What did you study while at Taylor?
I was a biology major for three years and then graduated with a degree in social work. I switched from biology to social work because I realized that social work was more my calling. I didn't go on to use it professionally, but I benefitted from the training and now I sometimes use those skills in my daily interactions. I did have to stay an extra semester because of changing my major.
What was the first job you ever had?
I worked in the DC for conferences in the summers while in high school.
What's your favorite Christmas tradition?
My favorite Christmas tradition is decorating the tree as a family and listening to Christmas music.
What is your favorite Taylor tradition?
Silent Night. It is, at least as far as I know, very unique to Taylor. It's just a fun community-building and now nationally-recognized, event.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Northern Michigan. I began going to Au Sable, a biological field station then owned by Taylor, when I was just a few months old. My dad taught there for the biology department. I fell in love with the surroundings-the lakes, evergreens, white birch trees, as well as the campfires, popcorn on the beach and s'mores over the fire. We have carried on this tradition with my family and now spend a week on the lake there every summer.
If you could give any advice to students that you wish you had known at their age, what would it be?
Don't take life too seriously. Enjoy every minute of it. Plan for the future, but enjoy where you are right now, where God has put you.
Correction Notice: Kirkwood's name was mistakenly printed as "Kirkland" in the Dec. 7, 2013, edition of The Echo. The corrected name appears here. We regret the error.
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