From the beginning, Jessica Wong says that she was drawn to not only the technical aspect of studying at a place like Rensselaer, but also wanted a program that would provide her with an opportunity to incorporate what she was learning into her current artistic skill-set. The Electronic Media, Arts, and Communication (EMAC) major from Brookline, Mass., will receive her bachelor’s degree from Rensselaer on Saturday, May 30.
Following graduation, Wong plans to do contract design work for a company in New York City, and says that she will likely open an online store for some of her illustrations and prints.
Jessica Wong
Before crossing the stage, the Office of News and Editorial Services had a chance to sit down with Wong as she talked about her Rensselaer experiences, and being prepared for the next chapter in her life.
As part of the undergraduate community at Rensselaer, what are some of the benefits that you enjoyed?
I think that the fact that the EMAC major is small and new allowed benefiting from the people within our major more accessible. In a creative major like EMAC, it is important to network, connect, and work within a creative community.
Are there any particular challenges or obstacles that you had to overcome while at Rensselaer?
Academically, I struggled a lot at Rensselaer because I had a change of heart in terms of what I wanted to do at this school. I think that is typical for most students. I eventually realized that the technical component was not important to me in the work that I was creating, and I would prefer to be an illustrator and graphic designer.
Did you participate in a sport or were you involved in any Rensselaer student organizations?
I was very involved with the Chinese American Students Association. At first, when I joined the club, my primary role was serving as their artist, so I would create print deliverables and advertisements for various events. Over time, my participation in this club helped me hone my skills with a multitude of practice. It never became difficult to manage my time in this position because I was familiar with what the position in the club entailed. I also wore a panda suit for one of our events. However, during my senior year, I served as the president of this club and time management became crucial. I learned to lead and organize others, in balance with large projects I was taking on in classes and I think that this experience of balancing work and leadership has been invaluable.
My most memorable experience at Rensselaer has definitely been working on my thesis project in my Creative Seminar class. Working and committing to a project over such a long period of time was draining yet extremely rewarding!
While at Rensselaer, what are the old or new hobbies and interests that you pursued?
I continued my hobbies of drawing, painting, and illustrating, but I was also able to play around with other skills such as sewing, which ended up influencing my final thesis project.
With graduation around the corner, what has been your most memorable experience at Rensselaer?
My most memorable experience at Rensselaer has definitely been working on my thesis project in my Creative Seminar class. Working and committing to a project over such a long period of time was draining yet extremely rewarding!
What advice can you offer to incoming class of students?
I would absolutely say get to know your professors. Especially if you are an EMAC or EART major. I have found that my guidance from Audrey Bennett, associate professor in the department of communication and media, and lecturer Paul Miyamoto in the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences have been crucial to my design skills and personal growth.