Check out this USF Magazine story about Rosana Sullivan, ’07, an alumna who switched between following in the footsteps of her father into the science into pursuing her own passion for art. This passion eventually led her to a career at Pixar animation studios and involvement in The Good Dinosaur. Read more about her path to Pixar here:
https://www.usfca.edu/magazine/summer-2016/news/an-alumnas-path-to-pixar
Current Student, Alumni, Faculty, or Staff?: Alumni
Name: Amie Lu
Title: Brand Ambassador
Company / Department: Oliver Space
Major(s), Minor(s), Program(s): Majored in Advertising and was part of the McGrath Scholars
Previous Major(s), Minor(s), Program(s): Biology
What attracted you to your initial major(s) and minor(s)?: I started off with Biology because I was inspired by those in my family and sought to become a pediatrician.
What inspired you to change program(s)?: During my time in community college, I realized that STEM classes didn’t interest me as much as I thought. I also learned that those classes brought on more stress and made me realize I wasn’t as happy, so I looked into the Advertising program upon transferring to USF.
What did you like best about your major(s) and minor(s)?: For Advertising, I enjoyed having professors from the industry teaching us and sharing their experiences as well as working with different peers to learn more about ourselves.
What was most challenging about your major(s) and minor(s)?: Being disciplined and not being closed minded. In the world of Advertising, things can change quickly, just like life.
How did your major(s) and minor(s) prepare you for your career?: The Advertising department did a very good job with creating hands on assignments that would be similar to situations to that of in the actual industry. This allowed me to gain a better understanding of what role I would best fit.
What resources helped you with your exploration journey?: CASA, Student Leadership & Engagement (SLE), Career Services, and CAB. All three helped me better understand what I actually enjoy and what I don’t.
What advice do you have for students exploring majors?: Your first major is not your last. Do what makes you happy.
Name: XO Davis
Major: Data Science
Previous Major: Biology, Chemistry
What attracted you to your initial major?: My desire to help people in the medical field by making them healthy and happy
What inspired you to change programs?: My performance in the Biology major wasn’t going as well as I would’ve wanted it to so I found it best to think of a new pathway to medical school.
What do you like best about your current major?: I like the flexibility the major offers and how it still gives me the option to have a minor with less stress instead of having a fixed schedule for the next years of college. This offers me the ability to have a bio major if I want to and take the prerequisites for medical school while also having a set major that will offer me a good career in the long run.
What is most challenging about your current major?: I can’t say so far because this is going to be my first semester with the major but if there is going to be a challenge then it will most likely be the intense math.
What sort of internships and career opportunities have your explored?: I have done internships in hospitals for the past 2 summers so that I can get a feel of how it is there and if I would want to still pursue that career.
What sort of extracurricular opportunities have you participated in?: Intramural Basketball, Many Hayes vs Gillson activities, Multiple sorority sport competitions
What sort of resources have helped you with your exploration journey?: CASA
What advice do you have for students exploring majors? If you aren’t really feeling your major by the first semester or you don’t know exactly what you want to do then don’t be stressed about it. In my opinion that is what freshman year is somewhat meant for, to get a feel of multiple majors by talking with friends and upper class men. If you aren’t a freshman then still exploring your passions is better than sticking to something that you don’t genuinely like or love.
