First impressions. First classes. First days of independence.
Freshmen in JMC鈥檚 class of 2017, like college freshmen of every era, started college filled with apprehensions and aspirations.
But today鈥檚 freshmen face some remarkable new challenges, too: sweeping technological changes that continue to transform the communication industry, an aggressive job market where hundreds of applicants often vie for the same job and new business models that trend toward freelancing and independent contracting. These factors require today鈥檚 freshmen to begin charting their professional courses from 鈥渄ay one鈥� by participating in JMC鈥檚 nationally recognized independent student media, student professional organizations, networking opportunities, and personal brand-building exercises.
Each member of the class of 2017 has a fascinating story to tell. In this issue of JARGON, we highlight four stories about four freshmen who are, indeed, off to promising starts.
Hanna Moore
For Hanna Moore, it was love at first sight. The North Olmsted, Ohio, native recalls, 鈥淥nce I visited Kent State, I knew there was nowhere else I wanted to go. After I toured Franklin Hall, I could see myself going here and doing really well.鈥�
Hanna visited Kent State for the first time in February 2012 鈥� an undeniably chilly season for college visits. But a tour of Franklin Hall ignited a spark in Hanna. 鈥淪eeing the newsroom and the TV2 studio made me want to get involved. Franklin Hall definitely has a professional feel to it. The technology and classrooms are up to date. The facility feels very real.鈥�
An honors student and member of the Provost鈥檚 Leadership Academy, Moore is pursuing a degree in public relations. Her interest in the field was fueled by her own research and the experiences of her cousin,Taylor Titus, 鈥�13. 鈥淲hen I was investigating careers, I discovered public relations. I like writing and speaking, and I discovered that PR professionals do a lot of the things I鈥檓 good at. I also talked with Taylor, who got her degree in PR. She had great experiences in JMC鈥檚 PR program and made good friends here.鈥�
Moore dug into her major right away. 鈥淔rom day one, I was in JMC classes like Multimedia Newswriting and Multimedia Techniques. I liked the professors and I liked the smaller classes. It just felt right.鈥�
The newswriting class was the highlight of Moore鈥檚 first semester. 鈥淚 had never written a news story before. Professor [Candace] Bowen knew we were beginners. She worked us through it. I put in a lot of extra time, and I ended up writing articles I鈥檒l put in my professional portfolio.鈥�
She also joined PRSSA Kent early in fall semester. 鈥淚 was intimidated at first, but [senior] Meghan Caprez is my PRSSA mentor, and she made me feel confident because she was looking out for me.鈥�
In spring semester, Moore strengthened her focus on learning experiences that will advance her career interests, such as the Public Relations Case Studies course. 鈥淚 am one of the youngest students in the class, and it鈥檚 intimidating. But it鈥檚 a small class and we work in teams with a real client, and that鈥檚 really cool,鈥� she says. 鈥淎ctually, it鈥檚 more than a class. It鈥檚 my first real test of my professional goals.鈥�
She also joined the Daily Kent Stater as a designer to 鈥渦nderstand how newspapers and deadlines work.鈥�
Moore would like to work in corporate PR for NBC, ABC or Disney and is already considering internship options while building her work portfolio. 鈥淏y the time I interview for an internship, I will have a strong portfolio. And my personal brand is emerging.鈥�
What鈥檚 next for Moore? 鈥淚鈥檓 considering a production position with TV2. I want to try everything while I鈥檓 here.鈥�
Olivia Rohde
The high school-to-college transition wasn鈥檛 the steep uphill climb that advertising major Olivia Rohde expected. 鈥淚n high school they warn you that college is such a big change. You expect that your professors won鈥檛 care, but here at JMC, they do care,鈥� she says. 鈥淧rofessors here make sure you understand the syllabi and they meet with you when you need help.鈥�
For Rohde, Kent State is a family affair. 鈥淢y brother went here, so I know the campus and I like it here.鈥� She commutes from Aurora each day, and finds the campus to be beautiful and accessible. 鈥淚 love the trees, and I love how easy it is to get around here. And there are a lot of resources 鈥� the writing center, labs, and commuter lounges.鈥濃€�
Rohde first stepped foot in Franklin Hall during the Destination Kent State orientation in June 2013. 鈥淚t was very modern, with great classrooms and without traditional desks. I felt comfortable, and not at all overwhelmed,鈥� she recalls.
Rohde鈥檚 first semester experience was equally positive. 鈥淚 look classes like Introduction to Mass Communication, Principles of Advertising, Modern History and Human Geography. I didn鈥檛 expect my classes to be so closely connected. My Modern History class related to Intro to Mass Communication. Everything I learned was useful and interrelated. And everything was interesting 鈥� everything applied to real life. We鈥檇 read about advertising campaigns and then see the concepts applied.鈥�
Rohde recognizes that commuters often face unique acclimation challenges on residential campuses. 鈥淚t鈥檚 harder to make friends as a commuter, so you have to focus on meeting people in class. Fortunately, it鈥檚 a friendly culture here. You can meet people from different majors and different walks of life, and you share JMC as a common interest.鈥�
Co-curricular experiences play a large part in Rohde鈥檚 academic plans. She aspires to work for an advertising agency, so she plans to join Franklin Advertising Associates, JMC鈥檚 student advertising club. She is also interested in having her own show on Black Squirrel Radio. 鈥淭here are lots of chances to get involved here,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hat you put into your experience here is what you鈥檒l get out of it. It鈥檚 important to take an active interest in what you鈥檙e learning.鈥�
Balance is also important, she emphasizes. 鈥淟earn to set aside time to do homework, be involved with organizations and be with friends.鈥�
Rohde offers a final piece of advice that is completely in keeping with the freshman experience: 鈥淐arve out specific time to sleep. Sleep is very important!鈥�
Cedric Simmons
Coming to Kent State was an opportunity for reinvention for Cedric Simmons, an electronic media major. 鈥淗igh school was an awkward time for me. I struggled,鈥� he recalls. 鈥淲hen I began considering Kent State, my mom told me this was an opportunity to reinvent myself, to really grow.鈥�
Simmons began seizing the opportunity to redirect his life even before the academic year started. 鈥淚 started in the STARS Program [a program for newly enrolled African American, Latino American and Native American freshmen] last summer, and it really helped give me a taste of school in a controlled environment, with a mentor to help me.鈥� Simmons was selected to become a STARS 鈥渆lder鈥� 鈥� a position of leadership among other students. 鈥淚 was expected to be an example to others, so I stepped in and did my best. The experience taught me to be independent and trained me to be an efficient college student.鈥�
The experience paid off. Cedric is now maintaining a 3.7 grade point average. 鈥淚鈥檓 doing way better than I ever did in high school,鈥� he says.
Key to his academic success is being at 鈥渆ase鈥� at JMC. 鈥淲hen I first came to Kent State for a visit in March 2013, I wasn鈥檛 certain about this place. But after my tour of Franklin Hall, I thought 鈥楾his is it. This is for me.鈥� I didn鈥檛 feel out of place. I honestly felt at home, with none of the awkwardness of high school.鈥�
First encounters also made a difference to the Chicago native. 鈥淟ast summer I met JMC professor Gene Shelton. I introduced myself and he said, 鈥業 like your name. I鈥檓 going to remember it.鈥� That made me feel good,鈥� Simmons recalls. 鈥淚 told him I was going to be in his Introduction to Mass Communication course and he told me to sit up front, and I did.鈥�
Shelton鈥檚 advice helped Simmons recognize the importance of personal branding. 鈥淚 make sure people remember my name. In class, I make sure my teachers hear my voice.鈥�
Simmons also adapted quickly and well to life inside CCI Commons, the residential learning community for communication majors. 鈥淢y closest friends come from CCI Commons. It鈥檚 a blessing to be with those of the same major. They know where you鈥檙e coming from,鈥� he says.
Simmons, who plans to become a resident advisor, looks for opportunities to help others. 鈥淚 realize that lots of freshmen didn鈥檛 get to come to college early and attend STARs, so they might still be stuck in high school. I try to help them. I try to be a light to others. I feel like a leader, and I check myself regularly to be sure I know where I鈥檓 heading.鈥�
The enterprising freshman plans to work in the entertainment industry, and he is pursuing courses and co-curricular activities accordingly. 鈥淚鈥檓 taking Record Promotion, Videography Basics and Media Writing. I鈥檓 also interested in joining Kent State Independent Films.鈥�
Simmons can easily recite his bucket list of aspirations. 鈥淚 want to write, film, direct or act in a movie that premieres at the Sundance Film Festival. I want to win a Grammy as a music producer. And I want to attend the Academy Awards.鈥�
Simmons understands these are big-ticket aspirations, but reasons 鈥淚f your dreams don鈥檛 scare you, they aren鈥檛 big enough.鈥�
Until Sundance beckons, he is perfectly content at Kent State. 鈥淚 sit on my bed every day and look out the window at the beautiful view, and I think, 鈥楾here鈥檚 no place I鈥檇 rather be than Kent State.鈥� I feel accepted here. I can be who I am.鈥�
Molly Ying
Sixty-seven hundred miles. More than 10 thousand kilometers. That鈥檚 the approximate distance between Beijing, China, and Kent State 鈥� and it鈥檚 also how far away Mengting (Molly) Ying is from her home.
Ying, a freshman journalism major, learned about Kent State when searching online for U.S. colleges and universities.
鈥淚 decided to study in the U.S. because I want to learn about the world, not just Asia. I had heard of Kent State, because we studied the May 4 killings in high school. Viewing Kent State and JMC online, I had a feeling of belonging here.鈥�
Ying comes by her interest in journalism naturally. Her father, Jiang Ying, is a journalist with China鈥檚 Xihua News Agency 鈥� and, ironically, a reluctant supporter of her career choice. 鈥淢y father didn鈥檛 agree with my choice for a career 鈥� he believes that journalism is a hard and dangerous profession for women 鈥� but he respects my decision.鈥�
JMC has met Ying鈥檚 expectations. 鈥淭he program here is very good. There鈥檚 a lot of choice. I won鈥檛 just concentrate on journalism. I want to learn photography, design and many other things."
Ying is also interested in learning about different lifestyles, and she鈥檚 a keen observer of the contrasts between Beijing and Kent. She grew up on the 17th floor of a high-rise apartment in downtown Beijing 鈥� 鈥渁 big, noisy city with a huge population. People in Beijing are busy and stressed. And there are skyscrapers everywhere.鈥�
She arrived in Kent in August 2013 to discover a small, tree-lined city of profound 鈥渜uiet.鈥� She was quickly surrounded by 鈥渇riendly, relaxed people.鈥� She liked the look and feel of the campus. 鈥淚t鈥檚 modern. Franklin Hall looks historic, but inside it鈥檚 cool 鈥� especially Black Squirrel Radio.鈥�
Ying, who learned English in elementary school, has found it easy to navigate her first two semesters. Now, she is taking a leadership role as a member of JMC鈥檚 new Student Voice Team. 鈥淚 get to offer advice and ideas. It鈥檚 like we are the owners of the School. We have a voice and duty to make the School even better.鈥� She credits Gene Shelton, her Introduction to Mass Communication professor, for opening the door to this opportunity. 鈥淗e really encouraged me.鈥�
Ying is also a member of Kent State鈥檚 Chinese Student Scholar Association and looks forward to joining Teleproductions or TV2.
Her first year in a new country and culture has not been entirely easy for Ying. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 homesick at first, but at Thanksgiving, when everyone went home to their families, I felt homesick.鈥� Ying has made friends at Kent State, especially among the growing international community, and at CCI Commons where she lives.
Ying plans to work behind the camera as a news director or documentary filmmaker in China. 鈥淚鈥檓 learning the profession at JMC 鈥� how to shoot video, how to write news. I鈥檓 also learning how to prepare my resume and cover letters.鈥�
Ying encourages other Chinese students to study at JMC. 鈥淟ots of Chinese students choose business or marketing because they are afraid of writing. But professors and advisors at JMC really help you. They recognize that international students need help, and at JMC, they really care about diversity.鈥�
