What year did you graduate from high school? 

2020. I went to Dominion, but actually my senior year of high school, I ended up moving schools, so I went to Rock Ridge High School. Dominion was my alma mater.

How did you get involved in high school? Were you part of clubs or honors societies or teams?

For sure, I was super involved. I honestly loved high school and I’m a very extroverted person so I loved being involved. The thing that I guess was my biggest part of my life in high school was theater, musical theater, choir, and also guitar. So, I was very much an artsy kid and I started theater, my freshman year. My first production was Cinderella and I literally fell in love with it. As soon as I did the musical, I was like, wait, music. So, I actually realized I really love to sing and I just love music, and so I ended up doing choir. Then, I did something called Titan singers and I kind of just started leveling up between the years and so choir and theater were the biggest things in my life, and then I picked up guitar. I was also in the Thespian Honor Society, which is part of theater. I was in the National Honor Society. I was in the French Honor Society. My senior year I was a global ambassador. 

Where did you go to college and when did you graduate?

I went to James Madison University and I actually graduated last spring of May 2024. 

What did you major in? What degree did you graduate with? 

I actually made my own major, so there’s a program at JMU: it is called Independent Scholars and basically I designed an entire curriculum using classes at JMU and a lot of study abroad courses. I called my major global music business. So, I basically took a lot of music industry courses at JMU and then I also studied music markets when I studied abroad, like in Japan, Korea and the UK. I also minored in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies, which is just being part of the Honors College and then I also minored in Asian Studies.

Did you always know what you wanted to do? 

No, I think the cool thing about the fact that I made my own major was that I had flexibility from the start of college. The first semester I had to design a whole proposal of the classes I wanted, why I want to make my own major instead of doing one JMU has and it really made me think hard about what it is I want to do. As I went through college and I had different experiences and learned about different things, I could start to really shape my major into what it is I want ultimately. To be honest, I struggled a lot in the beginning with picking what I wanted. JMU only offered classical and jazz at the time which was not what I was interested in, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to pursue it. Even all the way until graduation, I still was not 100% sure where I [wanted to] go because I had so many interests. My major itself was like an intersection of so many disciplines. I got so excited about learning and traveling that I was like, “wait, what do I wanna do?”. But a big thing I actually learned through all of that is that you are so welcome to pursue multiple things in life. Especially as a creative person, I think a lot of [us] struggle with picking one thing because we can be drawn to so many other things, but I learned that you should definitely have multiple interests. My main occupation in college was being a photographer for the university which is so random because it was a hobby in high school. In college, I just wanted a job on campus, [so] I applied thinking I wouldn’t get it. Then a little passion I had, I cultivated.

Did you do anything else related to photography within your classes?

No, there were no photography classes. Actually, I wish there was, but the cool thing is you learn so much more when you actually do something [rather] than being in the classroom. I feel like I learned so much about photography because I worked as a photographer and we would have some trainings here and there, but for the most part, it was something I just really enjoyed and it was so fun to see it make money.

With your study abroad trips, did you also have any internships abroad? More so, How have any experiences changed your perspective or impacted you? 

For sure. I mean studying abroad was such a huge part of my college career. My sophomore year of college, I was abroad the entire year. The first semester I did, a semester in London with JMU and then the second semester I literally went all the way to Korea and I did in exchange at a Korean University by myself. I didn’t know a single person in the country but actually that was my best experience. Then I did a summer in Japan, I did a conference in Indonesia, I did a spring break community service [trip to] the Dominican Republic. Every single trip was like I felt like I became a new person through it. I feel like I did most of my growing and learning from there, and then at the same time, a lot of those study abroad experiences gave me the opportunity to do internships abroad. I mean, to this day, I think those internships make me stand out as someone in general, career fields.

How did you find the opportunities to go abroad? Was it always directly through a JMU program and funding wise as well? 

I actually got a ton of scholarships. I got three national scholarships, which basically paid for my entire study abroad experiences. I also got big scholarships from the university. When I was at JMU, I was on a four year scholarship. So, the only thing I had to pay when I did a study abroad or internship abroad was my flight and my program expenses, but because I got those other scholarships, I basically paid nothing.

Tell me more about your steps into a career after graduation. 

I graduated last spring and funny enough, the day of my commencement, when I was walking the stage to graduate, I was getting a call. I walked off the stage after the ceremony [and] I called back. I was getting an internship offer, [which is] so crazy because the before graduation, I didn’t know [my plans]. 

How has your photography work continued?

In college, I was a photographer. Then I started my own business as a photographer, so I did a lot of grad sessions, family portraits, [and] engagements. All of my clientele was in Harrisonburg, the city that I was [living] in. So when I was moving back to NoVA, which is where home is for me, I [didn’t] know anyone who want[ed] pictures there. I [was] going to have to start from the ground up. So before graduating, I was really scared. 

Did you do any internships after graduating?

Just a few months before, I had applied to two or three internships. I got a call from this events company in DC, Markham [about an] interview. I became a social media creator and interned for them from June, all the way through December. Every internship, I learned so much through but this one in particular was just incredibly eye-opening. This company produces events for some really, really big people, notably they did some events for the Democratic National Convention in Chicago [and] we produced the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City. I had some of the coolest experiences of my life because they would produce events all around the country. And I would advocate for myself so hard, like I would talk to all the higher up people and [say], “I really want to staff these events.” Ultimately, I did [and] they would fly me out to Chicago or to New York City, and I’d be in Times Square and I’d like staffing events where the president came and Bill Gates.

What are you up to now in Korea? Is this just a personal trip? 

I mentioned that I did an exchange trip and internship here three years ago in 2022. I loved it. It was at Yonsei University. So I signed up, I paid for it, [and] I came. I did my placement exam, and I went to class the first day. I went to class and I was like, the level felt too low for me, I was learning a lot of stuff I already learned in college. 

After leaving that program, where are you studying now?

So right now I’m studying music production at this music school, it’s called Record Factory. Most of their classes are actually taught in Korean for Koreans, but they have a few international options. I’m just learning the basics of how to produce, make beats, make your own songs, and record. I just feel like I finally reconnected with all of those things in my high school and college life that were my calling. 

What goals are you working towards in your career? Is there an end dream job that you’d ideally have?

I like how you say dream job, because I have dream jobs. My biggest one is to be a musician. I wanna make music on my own as a singer, songwriter, and I also wanna make music for movies and soundtracks. And then also in general, just collaborating with international musicians, I just love everything global. But then my other thing is I love film too, and I really wanna direct a movie one day. I definitely want to even potentially act again, because I did in high school. I basically ultimately want to do a lot of music and do a lot of film. I just know those are the fields I want to stay connected in. It’s an evolving industry, so kind of wherever it takes me and wherever it intersects again. 

How would you advise other people, is there a secret to networking or marketing? How have you been involved in such interesting experiences?

I always say that you have to be brave and being brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared, it just means you do it scared. So, you have to have to look for opportunities and look for opportunities, you also have to apply for opportunities. You have to put yourself out there, which is so cliché. Remember that when you are networking, be genuine, show what you’re passionate about. Try not to be generic, try to be like authentic, and that’s why you should be smart about who you’re approaching, what you’re approaching, because you don’t wanna spend your time on something that doesn’t feel right, because your heart’s not gonna be in the right place and people will kind of see that. So it’s important that you go find people that are doing what you wanna do. Connect with people that are doing what you wanna do at whatever capacity, doesn’t have to be exactly what you want, cause they can eventually help you connect with other people [to] do internships. Apply for whatever catches your eye.

What advice would you give to your high school self or like a current student?

I really wish I could give this advice to my past self. Whatever it is that sets your heart on fire and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about, whatever it is that really makes you feel alive, makes time fly by, no matter how much you think you’re not good at it, no matter how unrealistic it seems, no matter any of the odds, just go for it it doesn’t matter how long you think it’s gonna take. It doesn’t matter where anyone else is at. You have to start, starting is the hardest part, but start, go after it and should you like something else, then find something else. The thing that’s gonna set you apart from everyone else that wants to pursue the same dream as you is that you work, even though you don’t see the progress. It’s okay to want to do everything. That’s the best ever, actually, I’d rather you wanna do everything than not wanna do anything. Try everything and if something sticks, it sticks, and if it doesn’t, that was a good opportunity and a good lesson learned. I think that’s what I would tell her [and] the last thing is, don’t worry so much. You’re gonna be fine. You’re gonna have experiences that you could have never even imagined. I wish we knew as young adults just how special our time is, as youth. You’re not going to have the same time with your friends, with your family, embrace it, enjoy it, and don’t spend so much time worrying because life is so short and things are gonna work out. Don’t be so absorbed by the future that you lose the present.

Is there anything else you feel like we didn’t really touch on as we conclude? 

I think one thing I’d like to say is in high school, you are learning so much about yourself, things that you like, things that you don’t like, and you’re learning about the world, and there’s gonna be so many moments where you might feel discouraged and you might feel kind of beaten down or like things might not seem like they’re in your favor, but it’s all part of the plot. It’s part of the plot and like any movie you watch, the reason you watch that movie is because whatever character it is, is going through something and you want to see them succeed right. You have to get through those plot thickening parts to be able to shine and have your climatic ending, but also there’s no ending. Happiness and having a great career, it’s not something you’re gonna achieve at a certain age. It’s something you keep achieving. Be okay with change, learn to embrace it. In reality, we’re all human beings who want to do something great in the world. Don’t see everyone as your competition, don’t compare yourself, just see people as inspiration, that’s it. Don’t think competition, think inspiration.