College connections

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The importance of utilizing resources is constantly conveyed to us as students. Although easy to understand, the benefits of networking and forming meaningful and long-lasting connections can seem so intangible that they’re not worth the energy. However, Media School students who traveled to Chicago witnessed the fruit of keeping in touch.

For example, Colin Carter, BA’81, and Laura Emerick, BA’79, went to school together from kindergarten through 12th grade in Kendallville, Indiana. As kids, they both played instruments in the band.

The pair lost contact while attending IU, but they reconnected through an alumni event, which led to their business partnership. Colin is a creative director at Mode Project, the production company making promotional content for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, where Laura works as the digital content editor. This relationship between two childhood friends is a motivational example of how investing time in relationships now can have a long-term payoff, especially when paired with IU resources.

Laura led our site visit to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She and her colleagues answered questions about their media careers. The visit included a behind-the-scenes tour of the theater, the practice sounds of professional musicians and encouragement to value and have confidence in the experiences had, education gained and relationships formed during college.