SJMC Graduates Advise Students to Keep Learning and Continue Growing

By Nathan Seibert 

Recent SJMC graduates gave great insight to current mass communication students about their future after graduating and what they can do to succeed in web development and social media. On Monday October 24^th, in the Old Main building, Kimberly Cook, Ben Slade, and Christopher Garza spoke to students majoring in mass communications about their experiences at Texas State, their job searching strategies after graduating, and where their career path is now.

A lot of students are nervous and anxious about what they need to do after college to be successful and find something that they’re passionate about. I asked Tay Gallegos, a journalism major what she was hoping to get out of attending this event and she said, “I hope to have a general idea of what I need to do while I’m still in school to feel more prepared when I graduate.”

Each speaker gave students great advice about what they can do while they’re still in school to increase their knowledge and skills that will help them later on. They put a lot of emphasis on learning how to code and web develop. “Learn as much as you can now because you’re always going to be learning new things. That’s not going to stop,” says Christopher Garza, a web developer with WP Engine.

Each speaker made it clear to students that coding and web developing were very important skills to have and to obtain them early on while they’re still working towards their degree. They all agreed on the fact that even after graduating college and finding a job, they never stopped learning and using the skills they gained before graduating. They encouraged students to challenge themselves, create projects their passionate about, and to always desire growth. “Show you’re willing to learn. It will make you desirable when you’re searching for a job,” explains Kimberly Cook, a web producer with Zenoss.

The speakers also discussed how it’s important to have projects you’re proud of that way you have something to show an employer when you’re applying or being interviewed. “Creating a project you’re passionate about and continuing to work on it is important when you’re looking for a job so you have something to show them, says Ben Slade, a profile specialist with Main Street Hub.

Kimberly Cook, Ben Slade, and Christopher Garza all reassured students that learning doesn’t stop, it’s important to continue growing, learn the roots, and that not knowing everything shouldn’t be an obstacle when job searching after graduation.

Nathan Seibert is a Mass Communications major at Texas State