The magic of Hall of Fame is that you can find people from all over the industry and from all over the world to connect with. This year, I was beyond excited to see Priscilla Rojas as one of the names in the speakers list. Being an international student, I know how hard can it be sometimes to just be here. It is even harder to get into the industry to be as successful as she is right now, just three years after she graduated from Full Sail.
Priscilla holds a Bachelor’s degree in Media Communications that she earned back in her native country of Venezuela. She came to America in 2014 and started her Masters in Film Production at Full Sail. She has currently produced over 18 short films, is the director and producer of a successful TV show, and specializes in production of special events, such as the Latin Grammys, Billboard, and Premios Lo Nuestro.
Interviewing Priscilla felt like chatting with a friend. This shows that in order to be successful, it is important not only to be talented, but to also have the ability to connect with others. My conversation with her was full of very important tips for international students.
**Disclaimer: Some international students have different visa conditions than others. This article is only intended to provide general advice. If you are looking for specific guidance, go to the International Student Office in Building 4 and speak with a student advisor.**
Priscilla’s first word of advice for our international student community was to connect with your classmates. Stick to your classmates because they are going through the same things as you and, even if you are not all interested in the same subject, all of your talents can come together to create something great.
Priscilla told me that the majority of people she has worked with are people she met during her time at Full Sail. Before she graduated, she was already working on pitching projects to TV channels in Miami. When she graduated, she already had projects to start working on and she decided to take her team with her.
Next, Priscilla advised that you need to improve and reinvent yourself in every project. Staying in your comfort zone will only get you so far. Excellence is the goal, always. Remember that, as an international student, you have it harder because you need to prove that you are as good or better than a local in order to stay legally in the country.
Network, network, network. Make sure to create connections so that people learn who you are. Do not wait until you graduate to start building your portfolio. Work on as many projects as you can now so that you have a decent portfolio to show right after school. The degree by itself won’t get a job, but your work and connections will.
Lastly, Priscilla assures that social media should be used as a portfolio piece. You can either have a personal account and a professional one, or you can have just one, but make sure to post as much as you can about your work. Not only do your employers look at your social media when they hire you, but potential employers can find you through social media, too.
Priscilla finished our interview with an anecdote that resonated with me. She told me about the way she met her best friend. Priscilla was in one of the hallways, talking on her phone about how she needed a makeup artist for a production. The girl heard her talking and reached out to her right then and there. You should not be scared of reaching out. This is all a learning process and the sooner you get comfortable with taking advantage of what is presented to you, the sooner you will start getting more opportunities.
Author: Sara Garcia
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