By Ryn Christoff, Social Media Contributor.
As the last four years of my college experience comes to a close in December, I reflect on my many days of studying, Zooming, and taking naps.
For my first two years, I attended St. Petersburg College (SPC) and got my associate degree. Throughout those two years at SPC, I was certain about studying creative writing. However, as time passed, I realized that I had a keen passion for graphic design and video editing. Ever since I was a kid, I have always enjoyed editing videos on iMovie, whether it be silly lip-syncing videos or funny videos with my friends. During my search for universities to transfer to after graduation from SPC, I found Saint Leo University and was immediately hooked on the digital communication degree they had to offer.
During my time at Saint Leo, I have made tons of friends, connections, and memories. From eating salads from Meg in the dining hall to studying in the library with my friends, I made every memory count. Even though a few of my semesters were not considered the typical college experience due to the pandemic, I still made the most of the situation.
I interned at two different organizations where I learned the essentials of the digital marketing industry. They also allowed me to gather a good understanding of the job force and taught me the skills I need to improve on, such as time management and organization.
My dream career is to be a graphic designer and digital marketing specialist, specifically working freelance to help people and businesses with their websites, social media pages, and anything they need help with. In that career field, it is essential for you to be on top of your game as there are quick deadlines and turnaround times. Having good time-management and organizational skills is key to being successful.
After graduation, I will be starting a year-long paid internship as a marketing intern at American Reading Company. American Reading Company is a mission-driven company that provides language arts solutions in English and Spanish K-12 in the pursuit of literacy and educational excellence for all students.
I am very excited to start the new internship after I graduate in December. Graduating in December is a little tough since most of my friends graduated in May and I must wait until next year to attend my graduation ceremony. However, it does make the job search a little better, since I will start my internship for the new year. Fewer college students graduate in December, making the job search a lot less competitive.
After my four years in college, my advice to underclassmen who are studying hard to finish up their college years and land their dream jobs is to ALWAYS make connections! Attend career fairs, join your school clubs and organizations, and attend school events where you can meet and connect with others. You never know: the next connection you make may lead you to meet your potential future employer!
The way I landed one of my internships was by keeping in close contact with my professor, Dr. Kenneth Embry, associate professor of communication management. He was able to assist me in getting into contact with someone who needed an intern, and that turned out to be an amazing resume-building experience.
The last point of advice I would give to underclassmen is to have confidence in yourself. There have been many times when I’ve been too concerned with how others think of me, which influenced my self-esteem. When I first started college, I could barely bring myself to speak to my professors due to my lack of confidence. Eventually, I learned that through self-confidence, I can do anything I set my mind to!
The past four years have gone by at the speed of light, and I am very much ready to hit the submit button on my last assignment and move with the career I have always dreamed of. As my favorite anime character Shota Aizawa once said, “There’s nothing crueler than letting your dreams end midway.”
By Geovanny Hillis, Social Media Manager.
As my December graduation approaches, it’s hard to believe how much I’ve grown over the past four years. Four years ago, I had no clue what I was going to do with my life. Four years later, I am on the path of pursuing a career within the communications industry.
The summer after I graduated from high school in 2017 was a rough time. I had planned to attend seminary to become a Catholic priest after high school, but that door closed for me when I found out I had not been accepted into seminary days after my high school graduation. As I struggled with disappointment and the shock of an unexpected turn of events, I ended up applying at St. Petersburg College so I could earn my associate of arts degree.
Starting college was a scary experience. I still remember feeling nervous during my orientation day as I sat down and listened to a presentation. I was not surrounded by the community of familiar faces I had in high school, and would have to find my way as I navigated this new world and the dynamics within it. However, as my first semester of college began, I found that things were a lot less scary than expected.
While things went incredibly smoothly as I earned my general associate of arts degree, I still did not know what I wanted to do for my career after college. I was like a tumbleweed that moved wherever the wind blew. I decided that I wanted to pursue a communications-related job and transferred to Saint Leo University to earn my bachelor’s degree in multimedia management. I ended up switching my major to the digital communication track of the school’s new communication program and have been enjoying taking courses directly related to my field of interest, such as podcasting and post-production.
Since the summer of last year, I have made it my mission to prepare myself for the workplace by becoming a jack of all trades in communication. I made an effort to learn the basics of important multimedia skills such as audio editing, video production, etc. I used to limit myself by saying that I’m not tech savvy, but the past year has taught me that you can learn new and even difficult skills if you put in the work.
There are several pieces of advice I would give to students before their graduation.
First, I recommend making the most of your time at Saint Leo by taking advantage of opportunities which will give you real-world experience. I recommend speaking with your department chair to learn about internship opportunities within your major. Taking advantage of such opportunities will not only help you build your resume and professional network, but you will gain practical knowledge that will help you feel more confident as you pursue your career. You can also visit Career Services on campus for various resources which will help you in your job search.
Secondly, I recommend investing in yourself by taking care of your physical, mental, and spiritual health. Over the course of my college journey, there have been times where I was negligent of one or more of these aspects of my health. While it’s definitely a daily struggle, I’ve learned that taking care of your body through exercise and proper nutrition will not only help you feel better overall, but will help you to perform your best. Secondly, seeking help when struggling with depression, anxiety, or any other negative impact on your mental health will also help you both feel and perform better. Lastly, nurturing your spiritual life is just as important. To be perfectly honest, my relationship with Christ is what brought me through the toughest times during my college journey!
While it may sound cliche, my last piece of advice is to believe in yourself. Don’t limit yourself by thinking that something is beyond you, just as I did when I would say that I am not “tech savvy.” With the will to persevere and the effort to learn, you can do things you didn’t think were possible.
While the journey ahead may be intimidating at times, know that if you put in the effort to prepare for the future and invest in yourself, you will succeed in your career. As the famous fictional character Naruto Uzumaki frequently says, “Believe it!”
