DARASIMI BANKOLE: Every quarter, Northwestern’s A&O brings a speaker to the NU community. This Spring, comedian and actor Devon Walker, best known for his role on Saturday Night Live took the stage at Lutkin Hall bringing laughs and insight from his comedy career.
[Laughter from the audience at the spring speaker event]
CLARA WROLSTAD: His set was just really funny and it was exactly what it was supposed to be.
DB: That’s Bienen and Weinberg student Clara Wrolstad, an A&O Street Team member.
WROLSTAD: As someone who is very curious about exploring a creative path for my career even though I’m not sure what to do yet, when I see these people who have thrown themselves so fully into their work, I think it’s very inspiring to see that it can work out. Since that industry can be very competitive, very cutthroat, and just difficult to be successful in, it’s really cool to see people who understand all of the pressure.
DB: Medill freshman Aanika Sawhney feels the same way, she explains why it’s impactful to see professionals in creative fields connecting with students on campus.
AANIKA SAWHNEY: I think A&O does a really good job in bringing in professionals in the creative industry and it makes me feel like there’s a path towards success and it adds more value to what can you bring as a creative and somebody in entertainment. We have really awesome developed programs in RTVF and drama and so it’s really inspiring to see these professionals like reach out to our student community.
DB: For Weinberg freshman Obinnaya Okezie, seeing someone like Walker close up made success in entertainment seem like less of a dream and more of a real possibility.
[Saturday Night Live Theme Song]
OBINNAYA OKEZIE: I feel like it makes the goal feel a lot more attainable seeing a normal person was able to make it to that level.
DB: Devon Walker’s visit didn’t just give students laughs, but also a glimpse into what’s possible in the world of entertainment.
DB: For WNUR News, I’m Darasimi Bankole.
