Fall — 2008

Samantha Wolfle

Graphic Design/AET

“The Academy of Entertainment & Technology has all new equipment, like computers and software. It’s amazing how they keep up with it all, because most universities just don’t.”

You could say that Samantha Wolfle is a ‘returning student.’ But that’s just a small part of her story. “I actually went to SMC back around 2000 for a couple of years, and got my AA in Psychology. Then I transferred to UCLA and graduated from there. And now I’m switching my major, and I’m right back at SMC,” she says with a delighted laugh. Samantha explains her career ‘about face’ in what follows….

“I was originally going to go for my doctorate in Psych. But as I got more into it,” she says, “I just honestly felt that it wasn’t the area where I wanted to make a career. So I took a couple of years off and thought about it—really thought about it!—and I decided that graphic design is where I could be happy in my working life.” Samantha notes that her own ‘psychology’ has taken a decided uptick at SMC’s Academy of Entertainment & Technology. “I really love what I’m doing down there, and everything is all so new,” she says. “I know a lot of people who’ve gone to universities where the equipment was so old that—when they got out into the real world—they were already a few steps behind. But my experience so far at SMC has all been positive, and I really like Zeny Baduel, our department chair. I’ve had a lot of good teachers at the Academy, but she’s definitely been my favorite.

Samantha reports that she has no plans to transfer, again! “I just want to finish up these two years, then get to work in some large graphics or advertising company, and work my way up.” To get to her ‘work’ at SMC, Samantha has to make the long trek from the Valley. “But you know? I was so happy with SMC the first time that I knew I’d be happy here again. And it’s nice to be coming back over the hill.”

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