In the summer prior to my senior year at Murry Bergtraum High School, I joined the CUNY Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (SEEK) Summer Program at Baruch College. The program was an opportunity for high school students to take a CUNY college course for four weeks and to earn college credit. At that time, I had no idea what major I wanted to pursue in college, let alone what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.
Having no interest in the other courses available, which were intro level mathematics and sciences, I chose to take a college-level communications course that opened my eyes to the world of media and production. I’ve always had an interest in television and entertainment –I regularly watched networks like VH1, MTV, and BET. I was drawn to the world of storytelling on screen but did not realize it could become a career. At that time, I thought being a news reporter was the only path to television and it never sparked my interest fully.
That summer course changed how I saw my future. I had no idea how much it would shape the next few years of my life. It opened my eyes to the power of storytelling and helped me to realize that media and communication were not just interests — they were a part of my purpose.
After graduating from Murry Bergtraum in the spring of 2011, I planned to attend a Historically Black College and University out of state, but a lack of financial literacy regarding student loans deterred me, and in the fall of 2011, I began my college journey at the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC). At BMCC I pursued my associates in science degree, in Video Audio and Technology. The program provided training in filming, editing, and producing compelling stories. Throughout the duration of the two-year program, I gained hands-on experience that built both my confidence and technical skills. BMCC gave me the foundation I needed to take my passion for media to the next level. My experiences at BMCC prepared me for future coursework and for the teamwork required in the television industry.
I obtained my A.S. in 2014 and decided to complete my bachelor’s degree in communications at another CUNY gem, Brooklyn College. Transitioning from a community college to a four-year institution came with a new level of excitement and I was eager to begin the next chapter in my journey.
Throughout my time at Brooklyn College, I worked a series of odd jobs that had nothing to do with my passion for television or entertainment. I did it all while attending school full-time. Many of those roles were in administrative positions. Notably, I worked as an accounts payable specialist for a variety of companies and once as an early childhood intervention services administrator. To continue scratching my creative itch, I joined the WBCR, Brooklyn College Radio station. There I was able to push myself creatively while expanding academically at my new school.
At Brooklyn College, I began to see the media through a different lens. I began to understand how the media shapes culture, influences perspective, and connects communities.
My professors encouraged me to think critically about the content I was consuming and creating. When I graduated with my bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn College in 2018 I had little experience in the field, so I took the leap and spent one full year freelancing in production. This allowed me to gain the hands-on experience that I needed through multiple forms of media work.
It was scary. I bet on myself and it was well worth it. I spent that year taking on any opportunity I could find to get my foot in the door. I worked as a production assistant on short films, TV pilots, and independent projects — anything that allowed me to be on set and learn about the ins and outs of the industry.
Each job, no matter how small, helped me build relationships, develop a strong work ethic, and gain a deeper understanding of how television and film come together behind the scenes. This was the life I had dreamed of living ever since I took that summer program at Baruch, where I first discovered my passion for television production and realized I wanted to be part of the creative process behind the scenes.
I have now spent almost a decade working full-time in media and television production, building a career that bridges entertainment television and broadcast news. Currently, I am one semester away from completing my master’s degree in media studies at Brooklyn College. I never thought I would go back to school after finishing my undergraduate studies. Pursuing graduate school while working full-time has been a challenge — it has been incredibly rewarding, to continue my journey of personal and professional development that started all those years ago.
Looking back, I can see how every step, starting with the SEEK summer program, was a building block to this journey. Each CUNY campus I attended offered something different, Baruch planted the seed and confidence that I needed to begin, BMCC gave me the technical skills to apply myself in the field and Brooklyn College has given me the critical perspective needed to succeed post grad.
Because of my experiences, I now aspire to teach Media Studies to high school students. My hope is that my journey through the CUNY system can serve as both an example and a guide for future media professionals who are just starting out. I believe that learning about media and production at a younger age will give the students time and space to fall in love with the field, ahead of their college years. I believe that in the next five years I will still be teaching and pursuing a career in education for the next generation.
My time in CUNY has shaped not only my career in media but also the person I’ve become. As I approach the finish line of my master’s program, I carry with me a deep sense of pride knowing that my story is a CUNY story, one built on opportunity, drive, and the power of education.
Author: Rebecca Johnson, contributing writer to theHIPE.
