Tag Archives: decisions

Yes, I’m a Media Studies Major: Part 2

Posted on by
Reply

09Part 2: Defending the Choice

“Hello!  My name is Claire Pukszta and I am a Media Studies major and Theater minor at Scripps College, in Claremont, California.  Nice to meet you!”

A fairly standard issue introduction.  Perfect for the professional setting.  However there are a few key parts of my introduction that usually warrant some confused looks, raised eyebrows, or this response…

Tv Land Good Job GIF by #Impastor - Find & Share on GIPHY

I will forever be explaining where I went to school as well as what I majored in.  Scripps College, while highly ranked and well esteemed, is not a college that slips off people’s tongues like Berkley or UCLA.  And I in coming to Scripps I expected to be forever giving the speech, “Well Scripps is a small, women’s liberal arts college….” You probably know the rest.  It would be a lot easier too if I could just say I was a Psychology or Business major in addition to going to Scripps.  These are fields of study that are fairly consistent in content across institutions.  After becoming enthralled with and deciding to be a Media Studies Major, all I could think to myself was “one more thing to explain”.

Despite how no one fully understands what I’m majoring in (including my parents), I am content with my choice and the questioning looks that come with it.  As a liberal arts student interested in social studies, to a certain degree it doesn’t matter what my major is.  I am here to learn how to think critically and will get that from whichever major I pick.  I am not majoring in Economics or Accounting where I need to learn specific analytic processes.  This is not to put those majors down in any way.  Simply the kind of administrative positions that I am looking for after college are places where I will learn specific responsibilities on the job.  I am fortunate to have that kind of flexibility.  But for those who are not set on specific paths that require a knowledge bank, I would encourage you to explore.  It may lead you in directions you never would have expected! 

I like how my major choice invites further conversation.  It allows me to describe my passion for the intersections of mass culture and social justice and how I want to provide opportunity for individual’s stories to be told.  So even if my major is a little unique, and occasionally indescribable, I wouldn’t have it any other way.  If I am going to sit through 4 years of classes, then they might as well be interesting to me.  I wanted to spend my college career in classes that I will truly enjoy.  So to those out there that want to pursue the major of their dreams, I say why not?  When will you have this opportunity to dive into a field so deeply again?  Take advantage of the time you have here instead of being so worried about the future.  Things will fall into place because you are a hardworking student who will succeed at what you put your mind to!

Live Long And Prosper Star Trek GIF by HULU - Find & Share on GIPHY

Yes, I’m a Media Studies Major: Part 1

Posted on by
Reply

Part 1: The Explanation

Logan Lerman Fun GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

So what is Media Studies you ask?  I’m hoping that by laying out, once and for all, what my major is I can finally help people understand that I am NOT just sitting around watching TV for my college major.  While that is true I watched Parks and Recreation for class once, it is not what I spend my entire day doing.

At its most basic definition, Media Studies is the academic study of culture and mass media.  So while this does include talking about and analyzing TV’s and Movies, this is not the only thing in the field.  We talk a lot about news media, social media, and evolving forms of “new” media.  Basically any form of communication in our rapidly evolving world is up for grabs.

But what is more important than any one media form is the academic part of the definition.  We are constantly grappling with what does media mean in our daily life?  How does media reflect what we value as a society?  How are political, economic, and historical systems affected by media?  How does the media reveal inequalities and gaps in social consciousness?  How can media be a force for change?  It is so much more about psychology and philosophy than people would expect.

In a world post-2016 election, I think is imperative to understand the role that media plays in our society.  We saw its massively powerful impact firsthand.  I want to study media because it seems to be a gap in our consciousness.  We spend large chunks of our day consuming media.  Since it is so integral to our daily life, I think that it really warrants further study to know how it is impacting us.

I have been asked before if my degree will be obsolete in 5 years because media is changing faster than academia can really keep up with.  But I don’t feel that is the case.  A Media Studies degree is giving me a valuable analytical toolkit.  As I prepare for a career in entertainment, I will be able to understand the current state of affairs and hopefully predict where the media world is going.

I am a huge media consumer myself.  To be a part of the conversation and to understand how this world that I love works will be invaluable going forward.  I never thought that I would be able to combine my passions for media and analytics in a degree but here you have it!  I just hope that I can continue to be an ambassador for the field and its value into my professional career.

Season 1 Netflix GIF by Twin Peaks on Showtime - Find & Share on GIPHY

The Waiting Game

Posted on by
Reply

Today I had a first round video interview with a company that I really want to work for this summer. I nervously sat in front of my laptop with my professional business clothes and my list of information about the company and prepared for the interview. Surprisingly, I found that the first round was not with a person and instead I was being interviewed by an automated video system.

This was very disconcerting to me because I had never done this type of interview and was not prepared for how to interact with a computer system instead of a person. However, I had no choice but to go along with it and continued answering the computer’s questions for half an hour until the interview was over. The system promptly let me know that my replies would be sent to a representative who would then contact me for further interviews if I passed this round.

With that section finished, I am now in the most dreaded stage of the interview process: the waiting game. From now until sometime in the next two weeks, I am going to have to sit tight and wait for a reply from a company that I really want to hear back from. There is nothing I can do and there is no way I can control the situation, so naturally I am nervous.

Whenever I am in this stage, I have the bad habit of continuously refreshing my email and even waking up in the middle of the night to see if I have been contacted. From my experience, I have learned a few to dos and not to dos in this stage to keep you from becoming a nervous wreck.

To Do:

  • Remind yourself that you are qualified for the position and that everything is out of your control at this point
  • Take your mind off of this topic and do something fun!
  • Learn as much about the next stage of the process so that you are prepared if there is a quick turnaround for the next interview.

Not to do

  • Do not over analyze your answers after the interview. This never helps and there is no way you can change what you said.
  • Continually check your email (like I have the bad habit of doing)
  • Incessantly email the recruiter asking how you did or when they will get back to you. You can probably send a polite email in a few weeks if you have not heard back.

I know that this is a stressful time in the job-hunting process, but it is important to remember that you are awesome and that it will all work out in the end!

We Do What We Want

Posted on by
1

So part of me is wondering why I’m writing for a blog called, “Beyond the Elms,” instead of my own Tumblr or WordPress blog called, “La Vie d’AnnE à Paris.” (If you speak French, you know that kind of rhymes – if not, use your imagination.) I intended to go abroad this semester. I had applied to and was accepted by a program in Paris, and if everything had gone as planned, I’d be writing this from a café in Paris right now.

Unfortunately, last semester taught me that plans often go awry.

Now, before I come off sounding too spoiled, let me set a few things straight. I know things don’t always work out: we get denied from internships and jobs; we don’t get into the classes we need; and sometimes Claremont-WPA goes down right before you finish downloading the latest “New Girl” episode. However, throughout all of my academic and professional hardships, I’ve always found that as long as I plan effectively and I’m thoroughly organized, I can figure out a way to make it work.

Studying abroad was different. I planned. I was prepared. I applied early. I turned in (most of) my forms on time. I had been dreaming about “ma vie à Paris” since I was probably 5 or 6 years old. But none of that could change the reality of the program’s disorganization. I couldn’t make it work.

Eventually, I made one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made and I withdrew from the program.

After a few days (maybe weeks…) of processing, the hardest decision I had ever made became one of the most empowering. I learned to say no, even to something everyone expected me to do. I’ve realized what I need to feel comfortable in whatever space I happen to be in; I’m not ashamed to know and accept my own needs. Lastly, and most importantly, I now know what it means to take control of my life and do what’s best for me rather than what I think (or what I’m told) I “should” be doing.

We have four years, 8 semesters, 32-40 classes, and not nearly enough time spent tanning poolside at Scripps, and it’s for us to decide what we do with that time and the rest of our lives. (Yup. That escalated quickly.) Just because 60% of the junior class studies abroad doesn’t mean the other 40% aren’t doing something amazing on campus. Just because 80% of students complete internships during their time at Scripps doesn’t mean the other 20% aren’t advancing their careers or their lives in other meaningful ways. We’re Scrippsies; by definition, we buck trends and do what we want – what’s right for us, and for our lives, at that time.

I will live abroad – when the time/place/job is right for me. But for now, the place I want to be editing this blog post is Seal Court, not a Parisian café, and posting it to “Beyond the Elms,” not a blog with a title that, frankly, could use some work. (A title I’ll need to improve before I do get the opportunity to write from Paris…)

Major Dilemmas

Posted on by
Reply

Hi folks! Spring courses are now up on the portal, and many of you, I’m sure, are busy deciding what classes to take. One of the main reasons I chose a liberal arts college is that I sincerely believe in the benefit of a wide breadth of study. But looking at the class lists, major requirements, and general education requirements can be overwhelming. As a freshman, I felt like it would be impossible to fit everything I wanted to do at Scripps into just four short years. For sophomores in particular, this is a stressful time. We are normally required to declare our majors by the end of the year (or sooner if you’re going abroad early!), and many of us consider spring courses our last chance to “experiment” and get a taste for the coursework in a major. The process of choosing a major was covered just last week by a wonderful fellow blogger, Jenny (read her awesome post), but I’ve just officially declared my major and wanted to add my own experience to the mix.

The way I saw it, I had two ways to decide: I could choose based on the academic and professional experiences I’d enjoyed in the past, and on the academic and professional future I wanted to have. Now, I understand that one’s undergraduate studies aren’t necessarily linked to one’s professional aspirations; even pre-health and pre-law students are free to major in unrelated fields. But for financial reasons, I’d like to be as well situated as I can for a job immediately after graduation. (I’ve also heard rumblings that 2-3 years of work experience are all but required before pursuing an MBA.) After graduation, I am debating whether to pursue a certificate in art appraisal studies or public accounting (maybe both?), or perhaps attend graduate school. For the purposes of this blog post, I’ll identify the most influential events related to my decision to major in Economics-Accounting and minor in Art History.

My Mom (Not an event, but my mom is always an exception!)

My mom and I visiting the Huntington Library in Pasadena.

My mother has always supported my education, and she has never tried to limit my freedom to choose an academic path. That being said, I was raised in a very money-conscious household, and I am expected to be financially secure and contribute to my family’s income after graduation. Entering the business world is definitely not the only way to make a living, but it is the path that is most familiar to me. My mother has worked as a payroll accountant at a large company for years, and one of my most vivid memories from middle school is of helping her alphabetize timesheets when she brought her work home with her. She also taught me how to balance a checkbook in third grade and brought me into the local Bank of America branch to learn the difference between checking accounts, savings, and certificates of deposit when I was thirteen. This practical upbringing, combined with my family’s expectations of financial independence, is the main reason I gravitated towards economics-accounting when I first came to Scripps.

AP Art History

A slide from my presentation. Delaunay painted work in series, returning to certain styles or symbols time and time again.

I took this course as a high school senior. After presenting in class on how Robert Delaunay’s personal experiences with war, traveling, and love corresponded with recurring images in his art, I knew I’d found a passion. For those of you who have never taken an art history course, it’s like learning about historical society, politics, religion, and economics, all through pictures, because each artwork’s style, iconography, and context tells a story.

Writing 50, Regulating the Emerging Art Finance Industry

This research paper (you can read it here) lit a fire under me; it has driven every decision I make regarding coursework, internships, and study abroad. Art investment is an exciting, new field at the intersection of art and business; my research helped me discover this professional niche, which incorporates my two strongest interests. My primary career goal is to help individuals manage their investments, with an emphasis on exploring art as an alternative asset class.

Core II: Economics of Gender and Choice

This course was team-taught by Professors Nancy Macko and Sean Flynn. We talked about gender constructions in the workplace and achieving a sense of equity in relationships. The main point I took away is the importance of balancing one’s financial and emotional needs. I don’t want to pursue a one-dimensional career purely in art or purely in business; through my final decision, I know I am being both practical and passionate.

Internship at the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery

This summer was so passionately satisfying. To hear about what I did and what I learned, read here.

Boston University London Internship Program-Spring 2014

Okay, okay, I haven’t exactly left yet, but I’m bouncing on my toes!

I hope hearing about my experience helps you consider your own personal, academic, and professional context as you commit to a course of study. What courses, projects, or work experiences have you enjoyed so far? What pressures are you under, and how flexible are they? What makes you happy? If your only answer right now is “helping people”, be more specific. Do you want to help them attend college, manage their wealth, express themselves, or develop? Why? What kind of people–children, students, adults, or seniors?

Other sources to consult:

  1. Academic Adviser
  2. Juniors and seniors in your prospective major. Don’t know anyone personally? Ask your professor to put you in touch. It’s not awkward unless you make it awkward!
  3. CP&R- Set up an appointment with a Career Counselor or visit their library. There are titles like What Can You Do with a Major in ___? You may also want to take a personality test/career indicator, if you haven’t done so already.
  4. Peer Mentors/RA’s-Last week they sponsored an event called “Classes, Concerns, and Cookies”. They’ll have templates to outline courses and food. If you couldn’t make it, make your own template by drawing a 4×3 table on a sheet of paper: one row for each year; one column each for fall, spring, and summer. (Type A tip: write each class or internship/fellowship opportunity on a small post-it note and mark major/minor requirements with certain colors. You’ll be able to rearrange and visualize your future plans easily)
  5. Registrar- If your academic adviser can’t answer your questions, make an appointment with the Registrar’s office to count up all of your credits and make sure you can graduate on time.