Because I Said So- A Practicum Project

How did you identify your practicum? What advice you would give to future Media Scholars on identifying a practicum?

Excellent question! Originally, I was going to use my summer internship for my practicum...but then it got cancelled. The idea to select Because I Said So as my practicum came to me out of the blue when we were filming a video one day! I realized that I was using my media skills every week to make this channel succeed, learning all about the world of social media/marketing and advertising. I'm so happy with how things turned out, and grateful that I got the chance to create this channel. My advice to future media scholars choosing a practicum- don't be afraid to get creative and choose something you love!! Alison and Kelly are here to help you succeed, so look at anything you are passionate about that involves media and start brainstorming!!

What did you learn from your practicum?

So very much. First and foremost, I learned that I have the power to create something from scratch and have it succeed if I dedicate enough time and effort to its growth. Because I Said So came from my Mom wanting to teach me how to cook and a lot of quarantine boredom. We put our heart and soul into growing the channel- and look at us now! We've had so many wonderful opportunities and memories, and the channel keeps on growing. I also learned the more practical side of content creation- how to edit videos, play with sound, market on social media using hashtags, etc. Lastly, I learned more about networking through social media, whether it was following accounts to promote our videos or reaching out to others to score new opportunities for the channel!

How have you grown as a person, student, and/or professional? Upload at least 1 piece of evidence that supports your answer and discuss WHY you chose it

I have grown so much as a person, content creator and daughter throughout this process. Practically, I've learned about content creation, social media advertising and the power of online connection. Emotionally, I've learned how to work alongside a collaborator (Mom!) to make something beautiful happen. We're on our own schedule, and it took a lot of learning and growth to hold myself to that schedule and make sure we were taking every opportunity that came our way. I included the video player (see videos above or click here) as a piece of evidence for my growth, because you can watch all different videos from different time periods throughout this year. Watching them back to back, you can physically SEE the growth. The physical filming quality gets better, the lighting/sound/editing improve, and you watch the dynamic between my Mom and I strengthen. Go watch the videos above!

How can you apply your practicum experience to your life/career moving forward?
What are your plans for:
The rest of your time at UMD?
Post-graduation and your prospective career / field of interest?

Applying Practicum Experience: As a double major in theatre and communications, I will pretty much be using everything that I learned from this channel. I'll use my new social media advertising skills for any future positions I have (whether in clubs or outside of school) where I use my communication skills to bring attention and growth to any company I represent. I now know how to create my own theatrical content, and can use that to further my career and theatre exposure as I get older and keep creating.
Plans for UMD: I just want to keep growing and learning as much as humanly possible. I'm adding a temporary triple major (journalism) so I can explore other elements and potential combinations of theatre and communications. I'm also staying involved in my theatrical productions, organizations and classes to better my career and exposure in the theatre world. I want to continue assuming organizational leadership positions, making career connections and getting ready to embark on my career.
Plans Post Grad: I want to professionally act in either the DC or New York market. In the year after graduation, I either want to have an internship/apprenticeship with a theatre, be working on a production or acting professionally. In case I can't secure a theatre job 24/7 (as the field is highly competitive), I want to work as a social media manager, marketing assistant or content creator for a local theatre, casting agency or anywhere else I can learn from both communication and acting professionals.