Danielle Rowaiye
Get to know some of our College of Media students! Danielle Rowaiye is a Class of 2024 advertising major.
How did you get interested in majoring in advertising?
Growing up, I was always aware that I was a creative person, but not necessarily in the sense that I was the best painter or drawer. I discovered that my creativity stemmed from my creative thinking. I wasn’t sure how this would translate into a career down the road for me, but when deciding what to do as a major in college, I focused on finding something that allowed me to utilize that creative thinking skill, and for me the best option was advertising.
What is your favorite part about advertising?
I like that there is no one clear career path for advertising majors. Everyone has different interests, so each person’s experience is unique, which is really exciting. When I talk to my peers, or professionals within the advertising industry, they all have such different perspectives and different goals that they want out of their careers.
How did your experience with the New Voices Internship Program through the College of Media contribute to your experience within your major?
My experience with the New Voices Internship Program gave me the opportunity to take things I had been learning in class and actually apply those concepts into real life. It’s one thing to sit in a classroom and learn, but to go the extra step and start to see what it looks like in real life was a really great opportunity. I’m really grateful I was able to be a part of this program.
What class has been your favorite so far?
I have enjoyed the majority of my classes but if I had to pick, the class that I feel I enjoyed the most was ADV 283: Advertising and Brand Strategy with Professor Jacquie Hitchon. Professor Hitchon made the class fun and engaging. I specifically enjoyed the group project for this class. We were tasked with developing a restaurant and creating a whole advertising/brand strategy for it. It was challenging, but also a lot of fun and a really great way to learn.
What piece of advice would you give someone at the College of Media?
My biggest piece of advice is to be prepared to feel unprepared at times. It sounds silly but I think that being weighed down by our own expectations in our heads can be a hindrance. I came in thinking I knew what to expect, which held me back from learning more about advertising, but once I let go of my expectations and had more of an open mind, that’s when I really felt I was learning a lot more.
What plans do you have for yourself in the future?
I am a part of a career prep program called Management Leadership for Tomorrow, and this summer I will be interning in New York City with Bloomberg in their marketing department.
—Interview by Emily Campos, New Voices Intern
