From the moment we enter our lives, we get all our knowledge from some form of storytelling. Every story is a bond that not only acknowledges but celebrates our humanity, our connection to each other. I am a dual major at Syracuse University studying Advertising and Policy Studies. The significance of storytelling from the perspective of each major is different but equally important. In advertising, storytelling is essential to making an emotional connection with your audience so they have a reason to care for your brand. Without that your brand is invisible and business goes bust. The world of policy has a similar need for storytelling. You’re trying to get across key ideas to improve society, protect a community, or make positive change. That takes a story that can evoke enough of an emotional response for people to act. So any way we slice it, becoming a strong storyteller is critical to my future success.

Collaborating with The Creative Process, I am sharpening my interview skills, learning what questions to ask to get the best story, and gaining more experience with the podcast medium because I see great opportunities there. Last year was my first year working with Adobe Audition, and I love it. Always interesting, continued use will only improve the story. 

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Syracuse University and Onondaga are rich with opportunities for content. While I’m studying here I want to take advantage of every opportunity to learn, grow, and share what’s unique about this community and the people who live here. 

One can’t ignore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastation it has wrought on the world. Most recently, I filmed and produced a short video documentary on small-scale farmers in the area and their experiences with COVID-19. My documentary primarily focused on farmers in the Syracuse area and two international subjects, the complications the farmers have faced, and ways they are showing resilience during this difficult time. While many stories have focused on COVID-19’s impact on an individual or larger corporations and businesses, I took an uncommon approach and highlighted the impact on a small agricultural business. It was a wide-open field and I felt that people should be aware of what was happening in this important part of our local community and our larger ecosystem.  

There are also other aspects of our community that I enjoy covering, many that I encounter through my involvement on the PR Board of University Union, a student-run organization at Syracuse University. In this group, I have had a wonderful experience as a blog writer, and I contribute weekly to University Union’s website. For the past three semesters, I've covered pop culture trends, offering opinions, commentary, and great recommendations on what to do and where to go for fun. One of my favorite experiences was meeting, interviewing, and writing a piece on popular rapper Yung Gravy. It’s great to get up close to a personality and dig a little deeper. It’s also fun to represent SU at press conferences. 

Along with other members of the PR board, I am looking to develop a podcast and final publication of all the blogs from each semester. Our board has been a consistent and active player in many press conferences, and I believe that a podcast would better showcase our experience and live event, for a more effective and shareable presentation.  

What are your thoughts about the environment and the kind of world we’re leaving future generations?

I live on the bluffs of a peninsula in Southern California, it is beautiful at any time of day, any day of the year. Whether exploring the wildlife in the tidepools at low tide, spending time with friends soaking up sun on the beach, or gathering with family by the firepits on the beach, we have many opportunities to enjoy nature. I remember heading down to the rocky beach to find an abandoned baby seal that had lost its mother in a rough storm at sea. I was there with my family and we were able to call animal rescue to help the baby seal. And just this past winter holiday, my sisters and I were at the tidepools noticing that the wildlife that used to be there—several types of starfish, sea urchins, and anemone—were no longer to be seen. This was as sad as it was sobering. I would like to continue to make memories here with my family and to share the joy of discovery and wildlife with my grandchildren and future generations. It’s important for all of us to work together to create change that can preserve and even restore the natural treasures of our world.

One can’t grow up in California without a passion for the planet, ecology, and sustainability. As far back as I can remember, I have always been aware of the environment and the effects humans have had on it. Throughout elementary and middle school, California was in a drought. My teachers and parents taught me to take short showers, turn the water off while brushing my teeth, etc. As I got older, I continued to do these tasks and became more conscious of how I impact the world around me. I made a point to create other sustainable habits like composting, shopping second hand, avoiding fast fashion, and repurposing items. When I moved to the east coast for college, I noticed a sharp contrast in how my peers’ liberal use of plastic water bottles, unnecessary plastic bags, and drinking straws, etc. And now with the pandemic, we are using more plastic and producing even more waste than ever. Something must be done to educate and enforce more environmentally friendly practices. I believe the best way for me to create a better future is by holding my friends and peers accountable. Simply pointing out excessive waste and suggesting an alternative is a great place to start and can have a great impact if everyone participates.