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CAMPUS REVIEW
D
reams are made real at Clayton State every day.
Dreams come true in every academic pursuit,
in every program, in every circumstance where
Clayton State has the opportunity to influence and
educate students.
As a result, there an innumerable individual sto-
ries about how Clayton State has made dreams real.
The following are just a few examples of dreams
made real at Clayton State.
One of the first theatre majors at Clayton State
was 2006 graduate Melanie “Redd” Horrocks. Orig-
inally from England, she came
to the U.S. in 2001, originally
just for six months. And then
something happened.
“I really liked the education
system here for undergrads,
so I decided to remain and
continue my schooling,” she
says. “I loved being at Clay-
ton State University. I was
very involved on campus and
had a wonderful time serving
on the student government
and working as the associate
editor for The Bent Tree. I was lucky enough to have
fantastic professors, especially Phillip DePoy.”
Originally a journalism major, she discovered
theatre by accident by taking it as an elective. One
thing led to another, eventually leading Horrocks to
her dream job when she was hired as an assistant
stage manager for LOVE, the Cirque du Soliel Bea-
tles project in Las Vegas.
“Working for Cirque du Soleil has been my
Dream
Stories
Melanie “Redd” Horrocks
dream job for many years,” she says. “Cirque du
Soleil is one of, if not the best, production compa-
nies in the world. It really doesn't get bigger than
this for me in my field. Being able to do this, to work
with this company, is an opportunity that I have
worked incredibly hard for. I consider myself very
lucky to get this shot.”
Of course, as a philosopher once said, “luck is
the residue of design.”
An equally exotic dream has been fulfilled by
Michael Ratti, a 2010 graduate with a degree in lib-
eral studies. Like Horrocks, he became involved in
communications while attending Clayton State,
eventually working for The Bent Tree newspaper
and interning at H Magazine in Henry County. He
also was strongly affected by professors outside of
communications.
“I was inspired and driven
by the enthusiasm and nurtur-
ing of my professors, they truly
cared about their students
and their success. Alan Xie
helped me to explore my artis-
tic abilities, and even helped
to arrange for my art to be dis-
played in the Clayton State
Cygnet, at the university, and
in art displays in other univer-
sities. Dr. Ron Jackson and Dr.
Todd Janke enlightened my
mind, logic, and perspective on life in a way beyond
description,” he says.
Thus educated in communications and other-
wise enlightened, Ratti parlayed his publishing ex-
Michael Ratti