Indianapolis' Best qualities

By Kristen Gandenberger

When I moved from Cincinnati to Indianapolis in 2015 for college, I was woefully unprepared. I didn’t know a soul in the city. I somehow went 18 years of my life without realizing that basketball is A Thing here and was woefully unprepared to hear about the Pacers all the time. I kept accidentally calling residents of Indiana “Indianans” (I know, I know. I still cringe thinking about it).
 
The point is, there was a Hoosier learning curve at first, but the more time I’ve spent in Indy the more I’ve grown to enjoy it. Here are the qualities of Indianapolis that I think make it such a great city, especially for young communication professionals.
 

1. Indy is home to some epic publications. What better way to learn about the media than to watch other people do it really, really well? The Indianapolis Star is a shining example of the best a local/regional newspaper can be. Their headlines, even on social media, steer away from the sensational and clickbait-y. I follow multiple IndyStar journalists on Twitter, including sports reporter Gregg Doyel, who consistently tells stories that pique my interest despite writing on a topic I know nothing about一sports. Indianapolis Monthly is also a worthwhile read, and always makes me feel classier and better educated after perusal.

 

1. There is a wealth of opportunities. I gave a tour to a future communication student the other day who was interested in sports. By the time I finished telling him and his parents about students I know who have interned for the NCAA, the Colts, the Pacers, the Indians, and even the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the whole family’s heads were spinning. And Indy isn’t just great for jocks (as evidenced by my existence here). The city is also home to cool agencies like Bandy Carroll Helliage and Blast Media that make my PR heart flutter. Most importantly, successful people at these organizations are so willing to pass on their knowledge to students whether it be through an internship, mentoring, or even just speaking at a PRSSA meeting. It makes the big city feel a lot smaller.

 

1. The people, and I don’t mean that in the cliche “Hoosier Hospitality” way (mostly because I have witnessed how people in this city drive). I’m talking about the people that balk at the name “Nap Town,” the Indianapolis success stories that could move on to bigger and better cities, but instead put even more of their time and energy into making this place great. These people come in the form of philanthropists like Christel De Haan, engaged civil advocates like Mali Jeffers, and grassroots organizations such as current client SO Indy. Indy has so many passionate, involved people that pull this city up by its bootstraps and push it in better directions every day. It’s both something I am thankful for and incredibly inspired by.

 
Though there are a million other reasons why Indianapolis is great for students (like UIndy itself!) these are the things I was most pleasantly surprised by and hope never change about this place (feel free to work on that highway driving, though, Hoosiers).