Navigating Graduate Life in Media Studies and Understanding Professional Goals
Edited by Vismitha Yaji
Starting graduate school can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially when balancing coursework, work commitments, and the pressure of defining one’s professional path.
This week Student Voices sat down with Annie Bryan, a first-semester Media Studies graduate student, navigating the complexities of academic life while figuring out career aspirations that have been a mix of challenges and inspiration. She shares her views on the difficulty of connecting with peers to unexpected moments of insight and on understanding what lies ahead and how to pursue it.
Can you share a brief moment from your student life that challenged you and taught you something valuable?
It’s been hard to feel fully settled as a grad student after just two months. While I’m adjusting to the school environment, I still feel out of place on the main campus. Despite being a student like everyone else, there’s this awkward sense of not quite fitting in—almost like I’m too old to be here, even though I’m on the younger end of grad students. It’s something I’m still working through as I try to embrace my place in the program.
With the constant change in education systems, what’s the one thing you wish more people understood about being a student today?
Balancing work, adult life, and grad school is tough, especially after coming from undergrad, where life felt more casual and focused on school. Now, everyone is busy with their own careers, making it harder to connect with peers. When I tell older adults I’m in a Media Studies program, they often don’t understand the value, thinking it’s just about social media. It’s frustrating because media is such a central part of today’s world, and we’re learning how to navigate it, but others don’t always see that. It’s a bit of a letdown, but I’m pushing through.
Is there a particular class, event, or experience here that changed your perspective on something?
Last week in the Media Design class taught by Jamie Dwyer, a guest speaker shared his impressive career journey, starting in Disney’s mail room and eventually working on major projects like Hannah Montana and High School Musical. He later moved to Paramount, overseeing hits like Yellowstone and Family Guy. What stood out was his shift to Broadway, bringing The Outsiders to the stage and working on For Less. As someone passionate about TV and Broadway, it was inspiring to see how he carved out a career in both fields. He also discussed AI in a positive light, which felt rare and reassuring. What made the experience even more impactful was how he offered us his contact details, encouraging us to reach out. It was a rare and uplifting moment from a professional that reminded me why I’m investing in this program.
As a new joiner, if you could change one thing about your student experience so far, what would it be and why?
I kind of wish there were more than one class meeting a week, especially for some of my current courses. I feel like having two sessions would help reinforce what we discuss on Monday and give us a chance to apply it in class by Thursday. Grad school is all about balance, so I understand the current structure, but in an ideal world, more frequent meetings would allow for deeper engagement and better retention.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your university journey or any achievements of yours that you would like to highlight?
Grad school has been a great experience so far, with a lot of encouragement for students to engage in activities typically reserved for undergraduates, like joining production teams. It feels inclusive, no matter your year, and allows me to build on the skills I gained in undergrad. I’ve been reaching out and putting myself out there, making connections, and engaging in class. It’s not always easy, but it’s been fun to feel like I’m getting a second chance at university—and honestly, I’m just excited to see where this journey takes me.
If you’d like to share your own stories, we’d love to hear from you! Submit your contributions here or reach out to us at smscommsandevents@newschool.edu.