Meet Samantha Oty!

I’m so happy to be pursuing one of my passions as a founding member of the Postcard Press team.During my Sophunior (sophomore/junior year) at Radford University, I had to write an empirical research paper about my future career and why I wanted to pursue it. At that point, I was still a little lost because I’d just switched my concentration from education to technical editing and writing. I decided to write about publishing because Emerson College has a master’s program in publishing and that’s where I thought I would continue my education. The following year, I was accepted into four publishing master’s programs, including Emerson’s, but The George Washington University and Old Town Alexandria won my heart. Choosing George Washington was the best decision I could have made because it led me to Jax and Nicole, which has resulted in Postcard Press. Because it was (and still is) difficult to find a job in my industry, I jokingly told my boyfriend that if a publisher wouldn’t give me a job, I would just start my own press out of spite. Now that joke is (slowly) becoming a reality.

In third grade, I had a dream that I went to the Eiffel Tower. At the time, it really did feel like it was only going to be a dream because I came from a small town in Michigan that was poor and rundown before the 2008 recession. However, the summer before my junior year of high school, I was given the opportunity to go on a two-week tour of Europe with EF Tours. Seven countries in fourteen days. It was a little overwhelming, but it changed my life, and I would go again in a heartbeat. There’s no better way to get out of your comfort zone than by going out and seeing how others live their lives. Since then I’ve been to the Caribbean, Canada, and returned to London. 

The only issue is one to two days in each country doesn’t give one an opportunity to immerse themselves in a different culture. It wasn’t until my junior year at Radford that I really got to become part of a new community. I was in London for a little over a month, which gave me a chance to see what living in that city really felt like. I had the opportunity to eat local cuisine (don’t buy into the fish and chips craze, overpriced and not that great), see historical landmarks that often go ignored, and get a clearer picture of the political climate. It still feels like I only skimmed the surface, but my experience in London helped turn me into a better traveler, and it’s why I want to dive deeper into what a community has to offer the next time I travel–whether that’s abroad or just another city in America. Every location has something unique to offer.

That’s why I was interested in Nicole’s premise for a travel press in the first place, and why I’ve stuck with it since the first day of class. Postcard Press has the opportunity to change the way people travel the world, and I see that every time I tell someone our plans for Postcard Press. I hope you’ll all see what we’re trying to do and send your love and support to the Postcard Press team by sharing your stories with us and spreading the word about our mission.