Where are you from, and what were you doing before enrolling in graduate school?

Although I’ve lived most of my life in Northern California, I was born in Los Angeles, and have recently returned to live in the area ever since. I previously attended CSULB to receive my bachelor’s in journalism, and during that time, I wanted to gain insight experience in another industry that I shared great interest in: fashion. I had the pleasure of taking on various roles within the industry, such as a stylist assistant and as a web/editorial designer. However, I also made sure to consider positions that shared my passion in journalism as well, such as a freelance writer and as a social media intern for a fashion magazine.

How did you learn of the degree program, and why did you choose USC Annenberg?

Living within a traditional household, graduate school was always on my list. However, I made sure to consider my best interests regarding my career goals. Therefore, I discussed with several friends, family members, and even professors on possible schools to ponder on. But eventually, I decided to go with USC Annenberg. After completing much in-depth research, I was quite surprised that such a prestigious and well-respected school would offer an unexpected degree that also suited me very well. This reassured me that Annenberg would give me the exact education I needed to have in my career. In addition, it provided me with insight that I could apply in the real world and utilize still ten years later.

What have you enjoyed the most about the degree program?

I wouldn’t change anything about my experience at Annenberg. From the professors who come from exceptional backgrounds to the courses that thoroughly keeps me attentive due to the lectures that cover diverse aspects of the industry, I’ve enjoyed every bit of it. I’ve even had the benefit of gaining skills that I wouldn’t be able to obtain outside. In fact, one great example includes networking with professionals who’ve held memorable discussion panels and were guest speakers for several of my classes. I founded it to be extremely valuable, making the opportunity for individualized attention to exist at a rate that would never happen anywhere outside of USC.