Skyelar's classes and extracurriculars equally prepare her for her career.
Why did you decide to pursue your major?
I came into college as a Chemistry major because I loved science in high school, but felt incredibly stunted creatively. Around spring break of freshman year, I decided I needed a change, and I looked at every major the University had to offer. the more I read about Strategic Communication, the more I realized how much it aligned with what I wanted. I could tell it would lead me to a career I would look forward to and that excited me.
What has been your favorite part of your experience at the Hubbard School?
I love how small most of the classes are. I really like the emphasis that is put on getting to know your classmates, especially since the industry is so small, and these really are the people we are going to be working with in a few years. I also love how much all the professors really care about us and our careers and futures. In classes I took freshman year when I was pursuing chemistry, it felt like a lot of my professors were on a high pedestal and couldn't care less about us, and the difference is incredibly apparent in Hubbard.
Which course or professor would you recommend for other students in your major?
Media design with Sara Quinn is the reason I am getting my Interdisciplinary Design minor, and I have loved all of my design classes. She is one of the sweetest teachers and is basically an encyclopedia on Indesign. Other than that I have loved my Advertising in Society Class with Ruth DeFoster; it's a great class that really gets me thinking about what is important to me, not only in advertising, but also just morally.
What minors, internships, or activities are you pursuing outside of your major? How do you think these enhance your major and/or your future career plans?
I was not one to be involved in high school, but since starting in the Strategic Communication major, I have really become involved in as much as possible. I am pursuing minors in Interdisciplinary Design with a focus on graphic design and a Leadership minor. Design is so important in day-to-day life, especially for someone in the advertising world. Even if I don't end up becoming a creative, understanding their process and how it all works is really helpful. As for my Leadership minor, all of the classes are focused on how to effectively communicate, which I think is important not only in the industry, but also just in life. Learning how to really understand how to communicate and work closely with people who might have very different experiences than you or different styles of working/learning has been super insightful. Outside of that, I am a part of Backpack Communications where I work as a strategist, and it is so cool to be able to gain real client experience while I'm still in school. I am also one of the Co-Presidents of Ad Club, which honestly has taught me more about leadership, how to run a meeting effectively, and time management than any class could. This past school year, I was also able to be a Gopher Sports Marketing Intern which was super cool, not only because I was writing emails that got sent to the entire student body, but also because I got to stand sideline at all the Gopher home football games.
What advice do you have for future Hubbard School students?
My advice is really just to get involved. I was so nervous going to my first Ad Club meeting, but every experience I have is rooted in Ad Club. I have met a lot of people in the major through it, I got involved with Backpack and Gopher Sports Marketing because of it, and I have gained so many skills through my leadership roles within it.
What is one aspect of your major that has surprised you?
One thing that has surprised me about this major is how career-focused it truly is. We are either looking at real case studies, learning from industry professionals, or building our portfolios. I feel really prepared entering this career, and that is something I appreciate a lot.
