My journey to Ball State and to the Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning (ECAP) began long before I first applied to the program. I come from a previously low-income family that grew together through our hardships. I took a special interest in the dedication my parents had to ensuring I had a fulfilling childhood. Interestingly, college was never a clear or immediate path in my parents’ perspective for any of my siblings or me. Despite our differences on this, they consistently instilled in me the value of hard work and dedication, which equate to success.
I recognized early on how the built environment and my access to resources often worked against families like mine who had made their living and their narrative in particular neighborhoods. That realization pushed me to want more than was given, not only for me, but for the like-minded. As a first-generation college student, I have within me a strong sense of responsibility to prove that where you start does not define where you will end up. This mindset has driven me to take advantage of every opportunity I can and to push myself even when things feel uncertain.
I am a second-year urban planning student with a recently declared minor in real estate development. I am extremely proud of how far I’ve come, even though challenges haven’t disappeared. I still navigate financial hardships and the demands of financial independence, which often limit my social life and leave me feeling stretched thin. But Ball State and the urban planning program faculty and peers have given me an incredible support system through the relationships I’ve built.
I work at The Writing Center as a tutor while maintaining a full course load. Additionally, I have been recognized as a nominee for Ball State Student Employee of the Year and received Tutor of the Year–all of which have been incredibly affirming outside of my academic work. I will also serve on the Student Planning Association Executive Board as the engagement director next semester, which will allow me to help lead the faculty and students within my program who have made Ball State a home for me. Even when I feel depleted, I remind myself that I earned my place here through persistence and hard work.
Some of my most meaningful experiences have come from opportunities I never expected when I first arrived. During the summer of my first year, I applied for an internship with the Community Foundation of Wabash County, where I worked on planning-related projects in my home community alongside professionals such as Alex Downard, president and CEO, and Connor Hindman, director of Imagine One 85. That experience led me to become a Ball State County Ambassador, representing Wabash County and working with Chrystal Pearson, associate director for industry engagement, to strengthen connections between the University and local communities. Academically, I have collaborated in a multitude of studio projects that immerse me in the future of planning.
Placing third in the recent ECAP Village Site 4 Design Competition solidified my interest in real estate development, while my current work in the PLAN 203 Regional Analysis Studio has allowed me to partner with the Muncie Land Bank and engage directly with the Whitely community. Working under faculty like Lohren Deeg, associate professor of urban planning, has been especially impactful. Through his mentorship, I had the opportunity to present at the American Planning Association Indiana Chapter Spring Conference, where I shared my work and connected with professionals in the field as only a second-year student.
Looking ahead, I know I want to work in a space where planning is truly shaped by and with the people it affects. Civic participation is deeply important to me, both as a student of urban planning and as someone who has experienced the consequences of inequitable development firsthand. As I continue forward, whether directly into a planning firm or an organization focused on community, I feel a strong sense of purpose in showing my parents that hard work and dedication do lead to something bigger.
I am incredibly happy I chose urban planning because it has given me the language and the tools to understand the challenges with planning and how to start addressing them. This program, the University, and the faculty and colleagues I encounter teach me every day that my success is not linear; rather, it is iterative and persistent. I used to worry that my background or circumstances would hold me back, but I have learned that showing up and working as hard as I can shines brighter than any tangible product could do. My parents were right, and I dedicate my success to them.
– Brooke Wagner
