Name: Isabella Bruen
Milton, GA
Major: Mass Communication with a concentration in Digital Media Productions

What is lead you to pursue your major?

I love creating videos that elicit emotion. In videos and all things in life, sentimental moments are what stay with people – feelings are what people remember. 

What was it about Georgia College that made you want to attend? 

I chose Georgia College because I wanted to study abroad and connect with a diverse community.

What has been your favorite course that you’ve taken? 

Professional Media Writing taught by Dr. Christina Smith. She gave us the chance to learn about the various fields in communications through Radio Broadcast Scripts, Press Releases, News Stories and a Strategic Campaign. This class allowed me to think about which concentration I wanted to study. 

Are there any faculty or staff who have stood out or mentored you during your time here?

Angela Criscoe, Dr. James Schiffman and Michael Crews have been my mentors for the past three years. They’ve taught me how to write for film, TV and news, as well as production and post-production techniques that shaped me into the content producer I am today. I went from being a freshman who had not touched a single video camera to a senior who has mastery-level proficiency handling content production from idea to video and publication.

Organizations, clubs and activities:

• Currently the Associate Producer of GC360 (Milledgeville’s only video broadcast news station)
• Former Vice President of Bobcat Media Productions Fall 2020- Spring 2021
• Member of Lambda Pi Eta the National Communication Honors Society
• Member of Alpha Lambda Delta
• Former Community Assistant for Wells Hall 2018- Spring 2021
• Former member of the Student Advisory Board for Georgia College’s Women’s Leadership Conference, Fall 2018-Spring 2020
• Former member of LSA, Fall 2019-Spring 2021
• Former member and first female member of the GC Power Lifting Club Fall 2019-Spring 2020
• Former member of the International Club Fall 2018-Spring 2020
• Former member of Emerging Leaders

What are some of your most memorable moments during your college experience? 

Professionally: presenting three speeches in my Public Speaking class taught by Dr. Jan Hoffman. This memory is so special because it was the first time I gave a speech, and I could feel the power of my words hanging in the air after I ended my excerpt from Hillary Clinton’s 4th World Conference on Women.

Recreationally: Noche Latina. LSA (Latino Student Association) put on this dance that they do every year, and it was the first time I danced Bachata and Cumbia with my Mexican boyfriend.

If I could have a third most memorable experience, it would be the backpacking trip I did with the Adventure Programs (formerly known as the Outdoor Center). We hiked a few miles and camped outdoors for 2-3 days, then we played the most intense game of hide-and-seek I’ve ever played in my life. 

Do you have a favorite spot on campus or in Milledgeville?

The trails on East Campus. Not many people know about East Campus, but it has a trail that goes around the entire lake, and it’s beautiful. They also have ropes courses and rock walls that are 40 feet tall, and they’re so fun to climb!

If you could give one piece of advice to an incoming student what would it be?

Go out of your way to do things you’ve never done before because it will take you out of your comfort zone. Getting used to forcing yourself out of your comfort zone puts you in a “growth” mindset. If you’re constantly challenging yourself and getting out of your comfort zone, you will be able to see your weaknesses and may surprise yourself with your strengths.

What will be your biggest takeaway from attending college?

I’ve learned life skills like how to manage personal finance and budget, how to be vulnerable with friends and how to live on my own. I’ve also learned professional skills like how to find a good work-life balance, how to tell a story all the way—from strongly engaging written script to filming a subject with interesting angles and proper framing, to editing the different takes together using Adobe Cloud software. My biggest takeaway from college in my personal and professional life is to keep pushing myself to be better - be a better friend, be a better videographer, be a better person to myself.