College Experiences That Helped A TV News Anchor At ABC7 News Succeed
To set up for success as a TV news anchor, Kristen focused on gaining experience through internships and college radio, supplementing this with political science classes to build a strong reporting foundation; moreover, "start that networking early" by joining professional organizations like the Asian American Journalist Association to connect with mentors and request workplace visits, understanding that real-life experience and personal growth often outweigh solely focusing on grades. For any student, it's beneficial to remember that "for every three asks, you might get one no, but generally people want to help."
Internships, Networking, Professional Organizations, Real-World Experience, Broadcast Journalism
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kristen Sze
TV News Anchor
ABC7 News KGO-TV
UC Berkeley
Political Science, American Studies
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Communication and Marketing
Immigrant
Video Highlights
1. Gained experience through internships and college radio station to build a foundation for a broadcast journalism career.
2. Joined professional organizations like the Asian American Journalist Association as a student to network and meet mentors.
3. Prioritized real-life experiences like internships and clubs alongside academics for personal and professional growth.
Transcript
What did you do in college to set you up for success in your career?
What did I do in college to set myself up for success in my career? I think I addressed this, but I can go over it a little bit again, which is really important. I had a goal ever since I'd gone to college that I was going to be a TV news anchor and broadcast journalist.
So I did a lot of internships and joined the college radio station to gain experience. I also took a lot of political science classes because I knew I would need that foundation for my reporting career. Definitely start networking early. I joined the Asian American Journalists Association as a student.
There are many professional organizations that accept students, and the membership is generally pretty low. You can attend their conventions and meet mentors, successful people who I was just in awe of. Don't be afraid to ask if you can visit them at work and see what a day in the life looks like. People are usually very nice. For every three asks, you might get one no, but generally people want to help, so take advantage of that.
I'm not saying don't worry about your grades. If you want to go to grad school, obviously that matters. But it's not all about the grades by the time you get to college. I really believe that, and I tell my own kids this: it's about growing as a person.
If there's a limit to your time, make sure you're not spending it all on chasing an A+. Give some of your time to gaining real-life experiences, whether it's internships, clubs, or other things. That's something important to keep in mind. Sometimes you build your resume better that way, and you grow more as a person with that approach.