Christine ‘Tiz’ Ditizio has been one of the best surprises for the Digital Corps and Communication Team. Being a biology major, her communications skills are not something one would first expect, but they truly knock off your socks.
Ditizio came in with a passion to learn and a work ethic that allowed her to soar in her efforts at the Corps over the past two years.
“When I learn something new, I tend to step into the world, step into the shoes of whatever I’m learning. I talk to the people around me who are experts with the task at hand. I do a lot of research and take a lot of notes like I would do in class. Research, immersion, hands on—I’m a very tactile learner.”
This eagerness did more than just advance her. It was the catalyst for promoting the Fabrication Lab, as Ditizio was one of the first students to manage one of the Fab Lab social media accounts. While the world of fabrication was something new for her, she didn’t let it hold her back in producing the best product she could.
“I just spent a lot of time immersing myself in the world of the Fab Lab. So that was really helpful—to just get hands on learning like you would with anything else.”
Ditizio never backs down from a challenge, probably due to her background in collegiate sports. She has played field hockey, amongst other sports, for much of her childhood. She even played Division I field hockey for Ball State for all four years of her undergraduate career. She gives her love of the game the credit for her work ethic.
“I have a very strong work ethic because it has been ingrained in me since I started playing sports. [I know to] put my head down and get the work done, no matter what it takes.”
This headstrong perspective has been more than evident in Ditizio’s work at the Corps. Additionally, her personality has shined through and brightened the office daily. Her kindness, laughter, and love seep into everything she touches.
“[Working at the Corps] has made me a better person, overall. I feel like I am a little bit more well-rounded than I was before. I had a little bit of a problem with the first few years of college taking feedback because I always thought it was personal. But getting feedback from people I know—and I trust their opinion—and hearing what they have to say, it’s not always bad, and they just want the best for you. Working with the Comm Team has been so great, and I’ve really worked on that part of my creative process. Working with other teams, like Video and Development—even just talking to them and creating friendships—has been really rewarding. They’re so smart, and I feel like when you surround yourself with other smart people, you believe in yourself and you live up to that standard. Everyone is just so intelligent here. Everyone wants to see everyone succeed here.”
While the Digital Corps will miss the comedic lines and kindness Ditizio showed us all, we are so excited to see where she goes and are very hopeful she gains more opportunities to spread her light and spend more time doing what she truly loves.
“I love being outside and being in nature, it’s one of my favorite things. I think it just heals me.”
That biology degree is sure to come in handy with her love of the outdoors.
