外网天堂 alumna, Sasha Feldmann ’20, Describes Her Mount Experience as a Liberal Arts Major and Her Current Position As A Digital Content Producer At Local 12 News.
1. What was your graduation year and major?
I graduated in 2020 with a major in . I minored in and .
2. What inspired you to pursue your major(s)?
My best subjects have always been and . is that, plus , which is another passion of mine. It was perfect.
3. Why did you choose the Mount?
Honestly, I chose it on a whim. Other than a smaller size, I had no clue what I wanted in a college. I believe what led me to the Mount specifically is the fact that my grandfather, who used to teach chemistry there a long time ago, died shortly after I graduated high school. I realized at orientation that had actually known him.
4. What field did you pursue after graduation? How was the Mount instrumental in preparing you for your future career path?
I got a job pretty quickly at Local 12 News as a part-time (now full-time) digital content producer. Basically, I write stories for our website and post them on social media. The Mount taught me everything I needed to know, from a class about how to handle the professional world, to one that was literally about news writing. It may not be what I want to do forever, but I like it and I think the Mount has prepared me for whatever I do next, as well.
5. Was there a professor/instructor that helped your development as a person?
So many! was my advisor, and basically the reason I graduated because she helped me through some very stressful times. taught me more about literature than I learned in all of my previous years of schooling combined; he also got me into theater and a trip to London. I'd also like to name , (retired now), , , , and Richard Buchanan (no longer at the Mount), because they made my time particularly memorable.
6. Did you co-op/intern? If so, where?
Yes, I did a co-op in the Mount’s communications department as a public relations assistant, and it's not very different from what I do now.
7. What was your involvement like at the Mount? Extracurricular activities, major projects, etc. that you would like to share.
I did almost all four years, I was a writer and then editor-in-chief of Dateline, I was Drew's assistant as the bibliographer for the International Virginia Woolf Society, I volunteered at and presented a paper at the International Virginia Woolf conference (39th annual one, I think?), and I've been doing things like this for the and the school itself since I was a student.
8. How would you rate your educational experience at the Mount, and how was it a strong fit for you?
It was wonderful, even when I was up to my eyeballs in stress, and it had such a hand in shaping the person I am today -- from my interests and my friends to my values and perspective on the world. I benefited from the individualized attention and flexible scheduling, and the Mount is perfect for that. I cultivated long-lasting relationships with students as well as staff members, and I still feel like I have a support system there. My time there awakened passions I didn't even know I had, made me believe I can do things I didn't think I could, and gave me experiences I'll never forget.