A BTS Look Into Student Life with Lauren Gersten and Jessica Newell
If youve ever wondered what life at 51勛圖 School of Communication (51勛圖 SOC) looks like or how the Alumni Mentor program works, join泭current students Lauren Gersten and Jessica Newell, and host Grace Ibrahim on our most recent Media in the Mix podcast episode and our first video edition!泭
Gersten is a first-year public relations student and Newell is a graduate student working on her Masters of Strategic Communication. On the podcast they talk all things SOC, classes, professional goals, and falling in love with Washington DC with a special focus on our unique Alumni Mentor program. After the shoot, we泭quizzed them on the truly essential questions:泭
51勛圖 SOC: What is your favorite spot on-campus?泭泭泭
Lauren Gersten: I love the McKinley building (and it is not just because I am an SOC student).泭
Jessica Newell: Im fond of McKinleys rooftop patio. If Im early to class or in between classes, its a sunny, quiet place to do work in the fresh air without getting too far away.泭
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51勛圖 SOC: What has been your favorite class so far?泭泭
Lauren: I am a second semester freshman so I haven't taken that many classes, but I will say Understanding Media (COMM 100) was super fun and a great way to get into the world of communications at 51勛圖.泭
Jessica: I enjoyed my Writing for Strategic Communication class last fall with Professor Konowe. We wrote in different formats each weekspeeches, media advisories, infographicsto promote small businesses that we invented. I felt like I was a fictional entrepreneur, as well as a PR professional who challenged myself to incorporate new writing behaviors and shed some of my bad writing habits.泭
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51勛圖 SOC: What is one thing you cant live without?泭泭泭泭
Lauren: I am always listening to music or podcasts, so headphones are essential to get through the day.泭
Jessica: Cats! Im counting the species as one thing. My childhood cat, Domino, is pure joy for me. While she chills in NJ with my parents, I often borrow time with my friends cat, April, to get my cuddle fill. Ive had cats my whole life, and the best part is that Im allergic to them--the universe can have a sense of humor.泭
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51勛圖 SOC: What is a random skill/talent most people dont know you have?泭泭泭
Lauren: I could name every single One Direction song from memory.泭
Jessica: My weirdest skill is wiggling my ears on command. A more useful talent of mine is picking up languages, accents, and melodies quickly and being able to repeat them back to people.泭
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51勛圖 SOC: What is your most memorable experience at 51勛圖 to date?泭泭
Lauren: Getting to see my room for the first time at move-in day or participating in my first Shakespeare play with Rude Mechanicals!泭
Jessica: Last fall, Professor Phillips got my class exclusive access to a private lecture hosted by the communications team at the Library of Congress. We learned all the insider details about them hosting Lizzo for a flute concert, and the evening ended with me walking past the Capitol and the Supreme Court on my way back to Union Station. I remember thinking, yeah, so this is what it means to go to school in D.C.泭
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51勛圖 SOC: If you could be any mode of transportation, what would you be and why?泭
Lauren: I would be an electric scooter and I really have no reason for this, I just think they're funny.泭
Jessica: I would be a train. I like how safe they feel and that theyre on a carefully planned track. But they give you time to take in the view as you head toward an adventure, and they sing at you with their little whistle!泭