Alexandra the great
Bethel University student Alex Rybarczyk withdraws after freshman year to pursue creative freelance work instead.
By Beret Leone | Royal Report
Alex Rybarczyk walks into the starch-white, hipsteresque coffee shop Urban Bean on Lake Street with a calm composure and large knapsack thrown casually over her shoulder. Casting a knowing smile at the barista, with no exchange other than a “hello” and money, the barista brews up her cappuccino. That’s her “thing” at the moment. For artwork it’s hand lettering.
At 19, Rybarczyk would’ve been a sophomore at Bethel University this school year but instead withdrew to make a living as a freelance artist. She works as a creative associate and junior designer at Open Book Communications part time along with running her own freelance photography business that she’s had since her junior year of high school and creating other various freelance work such as hand lettering.
“I would say that I have seen myself going this direction my whole life,” Rybarczyk said. “I never thought I would drop out of college though, I will say that. I did not see that coming.”
Despite being able to make a career for herself in a field she is passionate about, Rybarczyk never dreamed she wouldn’t be returning to Bethel this fall as a graphic design major. It was during her lather-rinse-repeat routine that the idea to take a semester off came to her. It was then a semester that turned into a year.
“She’s a go-getter. She creates opportunities for herself,” Bethel friend and graphic design major Sophie Bland said. “She doesn’t just sit there and hope for something. She sees and has a vision and then goes after it full force.”
With more than 1,500 followers on Instagram, Rybarczyk markets her creative work as well as advertisement posts for clients. To keep herself and her creative work fresh, she strives to create something every day. Rybarczyk is working on a 100-day project in which she features her hand lettering in a variety of inspiring quotes or powerful words depending on what stimulated her that day.
Her Instagram account has caught the attention of clients looking to get portraits of their dogs taken to Coach fashion accessory company. Coach bartered Rybarczyk to advertise three times via Instagram in exchange for a free purse of her choosing from their fall collection.
“Alex is very mature for her age and she’s very talented. So the fact that she did not have a degree did not have an affect because the quality of her work was so high.” — Sharon Sampson, founder and CEO of Open Book Communications
Growing up with a freelance copyrighter and graphic designer as a mother, Rybarczyk learned by example at a young age what it takes to be a freelance artist, along with the pros and cons. Late spring of her freshman year, Rybarczyk pursued Open Book Communications for an internship, later leading to a part time job.
“Alex is very mature for her age and she’s very talented,” founder and CEO of Open Book Communications Sharon Sampson said. “So the fact that she did not have a degree did not have an affect because the quality of her work was so high.”
Rybarczyk dreams of opening her own creative space to inspire others and act as a resource for young aspiring entrepreneurs like herself. Back in high school, Rybarczyk had mentors who did the same for her with photography.
“Basically, the way I got into photography is that a few people chose to invest in me and teach me show me the ropes and believe in me and that was huge,” Rybarczyk said. “I would not be here without them. So I want to be that for other people.”
As of now, Rybarczyk is living at home, saving money on rent and paying off student loans from her year at Bethel. Visits to BU tend to be exhausting, but Rybarczyk tries to visit friends as frequently as she can. She has no regrets.
Rybarczyk smiles, cappuccino in hand, and sits down in her familiar booth. Picking the largest table allowed her to stretch out her sketchbook, pens and computer to work in peace. She opens her sketchbook, papers with curvy letters flying askew. She flips to a new page ands starts twirling the words: “you must keep creating.”
Check out some of Rybarczyk’s work by checking out her personal pages
Instagram: alexandria_ry.
Twitter: @alexandra_ry
Open Book Communications Website: http://www.teamopenbook.com
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