Artsy, soccer playing, journalist

        It was a journey that started in a small retirement town in rural North Carolina. This venture would take a spirited girl on a life-changing trip across the world. The same thirst for life that led from a small college in South Carolina to the ranks of the Peace corp. would take Dakota Fitzgerald to the position of Award winning sports journalist in beautiful Barcelona, Spain. These were just hints of possible plans I gleaned from Dakota during our interview that brisk January afternoon. Her optimism and outgoing personality made me feel like the one being interviewed. 

     When you try to profile someone’s hobbies, likes and dislikes the results can often be a surprising combination, however, when you delve deeper into their past and personality a story unfolds, and this artsy, soccer playing, journalist, has a story unlike most.

Dakota Fitzgerald was born in Hendersonville, North Carolina. She moved to Greenville, South Carolina in the third grade. The love of music has been a consistent theme in Dakota’s life, It’s one of the things that gets her through life, she says. Her “no worries” outlook on life extends to her musical tastes. She enjoys anything from Bob Marley and the reggae-inspired group 311, to celtic music that brings out the roots of her heritage. 

Dakota has a unique relationship with the theater that draws from her desire for personal interpretation of stories. She emphasized that plays give you a personal touch that sometimes the silver screen just can’t deliver. Her fondness of theater ranges from comedy improvisation to large musical productions. One of her early experiences with journalism stemmed out of her attachment to theater. She noted, with some fondness that she had the opportunity to interview the set designer for the Broadway production of The Lion King. Growing up she developed an appreciation and talent for making art. Dakota’s journey, like her art took a life of its own soon after It got started.

Dakota developed a an fondness for the sport of soccer in her adolescence and played through high school. The enjoyment of the game forged a lasting love that would live to shape her future.

        Dakota started looking for a college with the mindset of playing for the school soccer team. After visiting and rejecting her more obvious choices, she discovered Winthrop University, and instantly liked the atmosphere the university exhibited.

       The story of this artsy, soccer playing, journalist will only get more exciting as she moves forward in life with optimism.

Dakota’s past and her desire for fresh and exciting experiences has led her to where she is today and maybe someday it will take her around the world.