Madison Scrivano, Mass Media major and current Arts & Entertainment Editor for The Cougar Chronicle, will be graduating this Fall 2016 semester.

Looking back on her time here at CSUSM, Scrivano discussed the memories and connections she has made as a student and as a Cougar Chronicle staff member.

“One of my favorite memories during my time here was actually just being a part of The Cougar Chronicle, because it was the first time I ever felt like I was a part of a community on campus,” she said.

The Cougar Chronicle provided a sense of community for Scrivano, and allowed her to develop professional skills and become a well-rounded leader.

“As a staff writer first and an editor second, I learned a lot about what it takes to be an efficient leader,” Scrivano said. “It takes a lot of work to dictate and edit not only your own work, but also the work of your staff writers as well.”

Scrivano served as a member of The Cougar Chronicle for two semesters, getting the chance to cover events and interview members both within and beyond the campus community.

“I loved covering the stories in which I was able to interview people. I interviewed many students as well as actors in both films and plays,” she said. “It’s so fun to get to reach out and talk to people and to see what they are excited about.”

Along with making connections with fellow students and Cougar Chronicle staff members, Scrivano also made connections with a number of impactful professors within her major here at CSUSM.

“The first faculty member is one that is no longer teaching at CSUSM, Professor Pham. I felt as though I learned the most in his classes, and his courses challenged my way of thinking,” said Scrivano. “Ashley Fogle is another professor that I loved, and she is an amazingly kind and passionate professor and mentor.”

During her college career, Scrivano involved herself in multiple commitments, which she said will hopefully pay off in the future.

“One of the toughest challenges was probably trying to balance school, work, relationships with both friends and a significant other, as well as an internship all in one semester,” she said. “I’ve had to really learn the art of planning and managing my time properly …”

Scrivano mentioned words of advice for incoming college students, reflecting on her own experiences as a student.”

“It sometimes becomes difficult to maintain a balance in all aspects of your life, but just push through and stick to your goals. You’ll feel so accomplished in the end,” she said.

Letting new students know to find a balance between school and enjoying their new college environment, Scrivano added, “… try to make sure you try to still make time for fun, because although school is important, you’ll go crazy if you don’t make time to relax and be happy.”