Marsalis Batts, graduating in Spring 2024, and Madison Steinau, graduating in December 2023, take a moment to reflect on their undergraduate journey in LMC. From graduate school plans to internships they both express the many ways the LMC program has led them to where they are today.
MS: Hey, so tell me about you. You’re a senior too, right? How are you feeling?
MB: I have really enjoyed it, and senior year’s been nice so far. The pressure of finding a job has been removed since I have an offer lined up. It's been a year to put my portfolio together because I do plan on doing grad school within the next two years.
MS: I feel that. I spent all day yesterday finishing my portfolio site too. Where are you thinking of going to grad school? What field?
MB: Digital media, I know Tech has a digital media program, but I've always wanted to study abroad, and I felt grad school would be the best chance to do that. It'd be a new start, and I'd have adult money to spend on grad school. I've always wanted to live abroad too.
There are a few institutions I've been looking at that have a digital media program or something that's adjacent to that. I've been thinking about Toronto Metropolitan, which is right in the center of Toronto. They have a digital media program that's one year. Then there's ITU Copenhagen which is also a school that Tech often hosts exchange students.
MS: Nice. That’s really cool. I spent 3 months in Germany as an intern for a law firm in Munich. Kind of crazy because I arrived back in ATL literally 4 days before class started. I definitely spent a lot of time talking to my boss about going to grad school in Germany. Loved it there.
MB: Okay, wow. I feel you. I would’ve done the same if I was in Germany, haha.
MS: Yup, for sure. So what classes are you taking right now?
MB: Great question. Let's see if I can remember all the numbers and names.
I'm taking LMC 3314, which is Technologies of Representation. LMC 2060 --because I need to finish my seminar credit. LMC 4000 -- senior seminar with Lisa Yaszek. That's been fun. That's where I get to really kind of reinvent the wheel of design. The class topic is feminist and futurist fashion. I created a 3D room that inspires your clothing choices and style with look-books. It also has a table with the fabrics and materials for you to make your own clothing.
MS: Oh, wow, I need that in my life.
MB: Yea! LMC 3403 -- Technical Communication with Spencer Chalifour and lastly LMC 3259 -- Experimental Film with Joseph Andrew Salyer. What about you?
MS: Okay, I'm taking LMC 3412 with Brandy Blake, which is Communicating Science and Technology to the Public. The main project is centered around creating a campaign that spreads citizen science in the community in some way. I also have LMC 3208 -- African American Literature with Nihad Farooq. That’s one of my favorite classes right now for sure. After that class, I run to Japanese 3401, which is Japanese sci-fi with Amanda Weiss. Lastly, I have LMC 3405 with Susana Morris on Black Media studies of the 90s.
MB: Is that last one part of the Black Media Studies minor?
MS: It is! I don’t have a minor but that would’ve been a consideration if I had the elective space. Do you have a minor/certificate?
MB: I was originally Mechanical Engineering (ME). I switched to Computational Media (CM) and then ended up in LMC. That process filled up my electives, so I don’t have a minor either.
MS: Interesting. What made you switch?
MB: I'm paying for college on my own, and I want to make sure that I'm doing something that fulfills me academically, creatively, and professionally. Growing up, I was in robotics and science fairs, so I was always told, “Oh yeah, go into engineering, go into engineering, go into mechanical engineering, if you can.”
Eventually, if you get told something enough, you start to believe it yourself.
So I truly thought, “Oh yeah, I wanna be a mechanical engineer. I wanna be the next Elon Musk but black,” you know? Then I got to GT, and ME’s much harder than I thought. You fail a few lab science labs and midterms. You struggle in math. Then you see that you have much more of that in your future, and you’re like something has to change.
I knew that I had skills in design, media, audio, and video. That brought me to CM, and I switched from CM to LMC because I just did not want to do all the CS.
MS: That’s really fascinating. Love that you didn’t fall into the STEM trap and were like, “Nah, I know myself” and did a bit of a 180.
MB: Yeah, absolutely. It seems that we’re the ones that are finding jobs a bit easier. I think ‘cause the market right now is really over-saturated with STEM majors. The people who can communicate science and technology, the people who can do graphic and web design and video are much more in demand. That’s my theory.
MS: Hmm. Tell me about some of your favorite experiences while at GT.
MB: I had some great moments in class and parties with the Society of Hispanic Professionals and Engineers. So much fun, especially since around December 2021, life started to get back to normal for me since COVID and I had changed my major to LMC. Loved my internship with CAI as a UX Design Intern. I also had my first unpaid internship with Mushaboom Studio. Katie Lynn and Grace were so much fun to work under. If I had to put this all in one sentence it would be that my favorite things are seeing how LMC has created more space in life to bring an element of play into my life that I’ve never had before.
MS: I love that. Is there anything that you really wanted to accomplish going into college that you either have accomplished or have not? What are your thoughts on that?
MB: My views on money have changed drastically. Understanding needs versus wants helped me enjoy college so much more. I think I’ve also achieved something genuinely fulfilling in LMC. I might earn less than some other majors, but I will have a true work-life balance, you know? The uniqueness of the LMC grind. Hate the word “grind”, but you know what I mean. LMC’s grind isn’t really a grind. What about you?
MS: Yeah so I definitely had a few things I really wanted to accomplish but didn’t. I think once I graduate, I’ll have a more mature view of this. Commuting 1.5 hrs one way to campus just tanked my ability to do much more than go to class and then go home. I wasn’t expecting to do that for 3.5 years straight at all, but that’s what’s happened. However, I hold on to the fact that we go to college primarily for one thing – to get a degree and learn. My grandfather always says that the education I’ve received is something no one can ever take away from me, and I think I’ll appreciate that a lot more post-undergrad.
MB: Absolutely absolutely. Hmm, so this being your very last semester at GT, what advice would you give to those who are just starting to really progress through their major?
MS: Hmm, I have to think about that one. I feel like I put so much stress on myself to pick the courses that are going to “set me up for life”. At the same time, I would sit in front of my laptop having no clue what I was going to do with my life. I still don’t quite know. The professors, advisors in LMC, and even my TA’s from classes like Survey of Calc are genuinely and wholly dedicated to supporting us students. I think trusting them a bit goes a long way. I would strongly recommend just reaching out and talking with them because you never know how it might uplift you. You?
MB: For sure for sure. For me, I’d say take that unpaid internship!! If you can’t find a paid one, just go for the unpaid one. Yeah, you’re not getting paid, but you’ll build some great work for your portfolio and resume. It’s just a perfect stepping stone for future work experience. I love this book called Defining Decade: Why Your 20s Matter- and How to Make the Most of Them Tow by Meg Jay. She talks about how building that identity capital, the capital that builds and shapes our identity with others, is essential.
MS: Oh, that’s really great advice. Yes.
MB: Yeah, not many of your closest friends can get you a referral to a Fortune 500 company, but your Professors? Your first boss at your unpaid internship? They probably are much more likely to have those connections to help you resonate with recruiters.
MS: Gosh, yeah so very true. Thanks for saying all of this. Really appreciate the opportunity to talk with you about all of this. 😊
MB: For sure. All right, you have a good day! Good luck with everything.
MS: You too. 😊