Crown Point native Monika Krcoski may work behind the scenes, but her presence is felt in every corner of GreatNews.Life. As a junior full-stack web developer for the publication, she’s in charge of the day-to-day technical operations, honing one of her many passions.
“When I went to college, I really wanted to major in theater, but I felt like that wasn’t the best choice for me at the time, especially with how competitive the field was. I went to my counselor’s office and said, ‘Here’s what I’m into. What do you think would be a good path for me, something where I could thrive?’ She suggested computer science because I’m creative. She said I could design how I want a website to look, and learn the technical side of coding and how things are built,” Krcoski said.
She studied computer science with a fashion minor at Ball State University. For Krcoski, it was a match made in heaven.
“The fashion part came from one of my favorite things. I did a lot of costume design for theater in high school, and I wanted to keep that creative process going,” Krcoski said.
Following her graduation from Ball State University, Krcoski got started in her position as a junior full-stack web developer.
"I was looking for a job that would combine my interest in computer science," Krcoski said. "I had always wanted to pursue theater, but I just didn’t feel like it was a sustainable career path for me. When I saw the opportunity at GreatNews.Life, I thought it might be a perfect fit. It allowed me to dive into the media side of things while still pursuing my passion for computer science, with coding and all the technical aspects."
Outside of work, Krcoski recently launched “The Nonsense Podcast,” her own podcast that covers everything from pop culture, fashion trends, and the latest gossip.
“I’ve always wanted to do radio. I grew up around it. If you scroll through my Instagram, you’ll find pictures of me next to Chicago radio stations,” Krcoski said. “My dad was actually a DJ, so it’s always been close to home. When I started college, however, my dad was like, ‘Okay, maybe now’s the time to get serious.’ That’s when I went into computer science, which I love, don’t get me wrong, but I let go of the dream of working in media for a while.”
It all came full circle when Krcoski’s friend Kealah Parkinson, host of the radio show “Tune In: Radio for Mind, Body & Soul,” offered her the mic.
“I just thought to myself, ‘What are the odds? I gave it up, and now it’s coming back to me.’ I had to jump in,” Krcoski said.
“The Nonsense Podcast” airs on 103.1 WVLP at 10 a.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. on Mondays and. Krcoski’s show is also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. To learn more about her creative work, follow her on Instagram and TikTok at @monika_xoxo_.