Statement of Purpose
“To embrace diversity in culture and ability, by promoting synergistic and interdisciplinary practices.”
Since running a poster campaign for class president back in 5th grade, I’ve known marketing was going to be an integral part of my life. I unconventionally entered college as an electrical engineer, but that error became just as important a moment, as it began my career as purposefully interdisciplinary. This realization led to not just 3 minors in various complementary fields, but an avid exploration of all possible disciplines. This passion for diversity also influenced my studies abroad throughout Mexico and Europe, as well as spurring me to become an active leader in overtly varying organizations and even research. I seek to apply this diverse knowledge in new and creative ways that traditional marketers may not have access to. The world and advertising especially need people who go above and beyond, seeking opportunities to learn from everyone and everything; I intend to be one of them.
Metodology
When faced with an involved task, I analyze the requirements of solutions and create a schedule with milestones to keep me on track and on time. This eliminates procrastination and the subsequent risk of slapdash results. Then, regardless of the extent of my knowledge on the project, I do my research: online, through company history, or with peers. This leads to efficient yet well-developed work I can be proud of, time and again.
Bio
Born in Central New York, I attended Marcellus Senior High School and graduated with all attainable cords and honors. While there I took courses from three local colleges as well: Syracuse University, SUNY Oswego, and Onondaga Community College. The courses from Oswego were part of my five years of Spanish language tutelage, and complement my solo efforts to learn Mandarin, German, and American Sign Language.
I became the first from my town to attend the University of Texas at Austin in 2015, entering as an Electrical Engineer after greatly enjoying AP Physics in high school. This turned out to not be the best suited career to me, and I switched majors after a year of perseverance.
I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in the Management track of Advertising from the #1 Stan Richards School of Advertising, along with three certificates (each requiring more hours than a minor). These are the Business Foundations Program, the Digital Arts and Media segment of the Bridging Disciplines Program, and the Certificate in Global Management. Read more about these in the appropriately titled sections of my blog here. Also read about the intensive programs I have been honored to take part in, such as leadership retreats and the esteemed Burnt Orange Society.
I became active in the campus community as soon as I set foot on the Forty Acres for the first time, joining every Electrical Engineering organization I could find. These included IEEE, SWE, WEP, WECE, WISE, Vector, and more; see my HornsLink.com profile. Upon transferring, I switched over to the Advertising organizations: namely the Texas Advertising Group, Minutemen Creatives, Cactus Yearbook, and Women Communicators of Austin (joining their online database). I also became very active in the residence hall I had chosen as my new home, Jester East; read all about my work as a Public Relations Officer and NRHH President.
I have had the great fortune to study abroad twice. The first experience was half a year in Mexico, at the Technologico de Monterrey in Mexico City then Queretaro after the earthquake of September 19 leveled our host campus. My cultural sensitivity improved and affected my life in deeply personal ways. Adaptability was another necessity to survive in a foreign country with hardly any official preparation, a pilot program condensing an intensive semester-long finance course into two weeks, dealing with a natural disaster both during and after the event itself, an internship in a foreign language, and so much more. I used these lessons to study abroad again in Prague in Czechia; applying my newfound flexibility to an utterly different setting.
Although I engaged to my fullest ability in the cookie cutter path from class to organization to internship, I also participated in multiple research opportunities. Please read about those here. Plus, I completed three elective capstone projects and many other things off the beaten path that you can learn more about from my blog posts on this website.
My hobbies include tennis (I was Varsity Co-Captain in high school and on the team all four years, helping take us to our first championship in a quarter-century), geology (this started by picking shiny pieces out of our gravel driveway and turning over shale in the woods for fossils, and has grown into field and lab research), and writing fantasy (my work is most published on the Unofficial Elder Scrolls Wiki, a very popular game site of which I was a top editor for a few years; I also have a novel in the works, like any proper Austinite). I also take care of an incredibly (horrifyingly, I should say) intelligent rescue cat. Beyond these core interests I have of wide range of activities I love engaging in when I have the time, such as: gardening, cooking, composing digital music, painting, yoga, video games, and more. These do not control my work, but flavor it with a diversity and excitement I feel is too rarely seen in advertising.