Related Links
Listen to an audio version of this story
To get an experience of St. John's at its site
To look at news from the town of Hudson visit the online newspaper
Learn more about team captain responsibilities
Home is where the Heart Is
By Valerie Bonner
EAU CLAIRE, Wis.-Many people say home is where the heart it. They believe the place they grew up in will forever be there home. It is a special place that people can go back to and remember their childhood.
Katie Swanson is a firm believer that her home will always have a special place in her heart. Swanson was born in St. Paul, MN on March 27, 1986. But she was raised in Hudson, WI.
She was born the first and only daughter to Ted and Kathie Swanson. She was brought into the world two years after her brother, Andrew. The two young children did not get along growing up. However, once he moved to college they formed a close friendship. Being apart does make the heart grow fonder.
“We can’t spend months and months together though, we drive each other nuts,” Swanson says. Yet, she thinks her parents are hilarious and supportive. They have guided and aided her in all that she does. Smiling, Swanson says, “I feel that my family has gone through everything and there is nothing that could tear us apart.”
Family is very important to Swanson, which explains the bond that they share together. She describes her aunts and uncles as “second parents” and her cousins as “brothers and sisters.” She believes her family to be one of a kind. Every year they take a trip to St. John (Virgin Islands). Swanson believes it to be her favorite place to get away to; it is a place to relax.
“Words really can’t describe what it feels like to be able to vacation there,” Swanson says with a smile on her face. “I truly believe it is the most beautiful place on earth.”
The Swanson’s grew up in the small town of Hudson, a town of almost 12,000 people, which is small compared to other cities. Swanson enjoyed the atmosphere of this kind of town. She felt that the comfort of knowing everybody created a sense of security. She lives in the country and loves to be able to sit on the porch and relax.
“It has everything one would need, but at the same time you still know everybody,” Swanson says. “Besides we had the Twin Cities right next to us if we wanted to go to the big city.”
Swanson attended Hudson High School, which she believes is the typical high school. There were many clicks formed going into high school. Now that everybody has graduated, people were able to make relationships outside of their groups.
Through out high school Swanson built long lasting relationships with her friends, whom she is still close with today.
She became active in her high school’s dance team, which consumed her life for the next four years. She was captain of her team for two years, this arose a self-confidence giving her valuable leadership qualities. Her senior year, Swanson won the leadership award from her dance team, an award that still means a lot to her to this day. This type of leadership has helped her to build a foundation around her major, giving her useful qualities for any kind of profession.
As a young child, Swanson aimed to become a geologist; she had a fascination with rocks. However, her dreams differ a little nowadays. Now, Swanson is studying to become a public relations specialist.
Before attending the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, she was a student at River Falls, WI. Yet, this school was aimed more toward engineers and Swanson decided to transfer. Now she is finishing up her junior year and loving it.
After graduating, she hopes to establish herself as a credible PR professional and then own her own event planning business; focusing on weddings.
“I really don’t know what inspired me to focus on weddings,” Swanson says. “I guess I always enjoyed a good party, why not get paid for it?”
Due to growing up in Hudson, she desires to live in a town the size of it when she is older. Instead of aspiring to be a small town girl making it in a big city, she believes that she will eventually end up in a town identical to Hudson.
Swanson has big dreams and is working hard to achieve her goals. The fact of the matter is that no matter where she goes in life, she will always remember the place she calls home. Swanson has a lot of support from family and friends. She knows that her home will always have a special place in her heart.
