Why did you want to study Cinema and Media Studies?
My interest in Cinema and Media Studies began with an impulse to look closely. With my passion for cinema, I found myself returning to theaters for the same film or replaying sequences on my laptop. Studying literature introduced me to the practice of close reading, and I soon discovered that cinema had long invited the same kind of attention. Cinema and Media Studies gave that instinct a vocabulary in sustained engagements with theory, history and philosophy, one that prompts me to ask what cinematic forms make possible. That curiosity is what led me to Cinema and Media Studies.

What have been your greatest successes and challenges at school so far?
I really struggled with finding my footing in research as a first-year international student. That began to change as I explored the department’s diverse upper-division courses and became more involved in its academic community. Most recently, I co-organized the inaugural CAMS undergraduate research conference (CAMSFAMS) with fellow CAMS student Grace, which brought together a remarkable range of undergraduate film and media research. It was truly inspiring to witness the intellectual exchanges that took place at CAMSFAMS, and co-planning it is truly one of my proudest successes at SCA.

What projects have you worked on that you’re proud of?
I spent my final project for The Essay Film class researching the different versions of voiceover in Sans Soleil, which also fulfilled part of the Honors Track requirements. I am especially proud of this project because it allowed me to write about a film I care deeply about while experimenting with how theoretical readings and archival research can work together in my own writing.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about applying to SCA?
Stick to the moments in a film that make you want to return to it and understand it differently. Following those moments has led to some of the most rewarding experiences in my studies.