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Speaker 1:

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast, by the hosts and guests may or may not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ.

Speaker 2:

Freshman year, I came in undecided.

Speaker 3:

I'm finance, entrepreneurship, anthropology.

Speaker 4:

I'm a senior architecture ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ.

Speaker 5:

I'm involved in the Blockchain Club here.

Speaker 6:

I'm very passionate about studying abroad.

Speaker 7:

Classes are going great.

Speaker 8:

And then obviously very involved with my sorority.

Speaker 9:

I'm thriving.

Meredith Aliff:

Hi, I'm Meredith Aliff, and this is Major Insight. This is the podcast where we talk college life with amazing ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs about how to find your place and purpose on campus. Makenzie Knore is a true storyteller who hopes to inspire curiosity and to enrich lives through media. She's passionate about screenwriting, songwriting and filmmaking, and as a media and culture and creative writing double major with a minor in music composition, Makenzie is also the co-president of Miami Television News where she's been a writer, director, editor, and more. We'll also talk about overcoming college doubts, about finding confidence and clarity when the path forward becomes uncertain and about how movies, music and media can help carry us through tough times. And the first question that I have for you is, who are you?

Makenzie Knore:

Yeah, my name is Makenzie Knore. I'm a major in media and culture English creative writing with minors in music composition and emerging technology and business and design.

Meredith Aliff:

What led you to come here for college?

Makenzie Knore:

So when I was doing my college search, I just never felt like I was the important aspect or that they cared much about what I was doing with my future career. So because of cost situations, I was like, "Okay, I'm going to stay in Ohio." Went to other college campuses in Ohio and I was determined to go to some of them before my parents asked me to come to ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ because that is where they both went. So I came on a tour here, they gave me a free muffin, they spelled my name correctly, and I met with the media chair here, Bruce Drushel. And after that tour I was like, "This is the place I'm going." It just felt like home right from the get go.

And when I came here, I found out that not only could you major in media, you could do multiple majors with minors and it would encapsulate everything that you wanted to do. You weren't limited to one major or one discipline. And so after meeting with Dr. Drushel, I found that out. He suggested that I also major in English in addition to the media. And everybody has different priorities when they're looking at a college campus, whether that be the discipline you want to major in or maybe safety or location, and mine was just not feeling trapped into one thing. I wanted an expansive understanding and knowledge, which also really helps that ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ is a liberal arts school, so we have to take requirements in other disciplines, which I personally love.

Meredith Aliff:

So what was your decision? Like, "I'm going to study media."

Makenzie Knore:

Yeah. So you know when you're in high school and you take all those quizzes? I did every single one that you can think of and I basically determined that I was either going to study media related field or education, become a teacher. And after I found out there was a media program, then I switched, but I was between those two because my biggest goal in life is to help people and obviously with teaching, you're in a classroom, you're helping the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs, helping them grow and learn. And media is the same thing, but to me, on a bigger scale. I can help people globally, not just in the small classroom. And so that was really my determining factor is I wanted to be a teacher for the world and to continue to grow and have what I create impact other people and hopefully inspire them to become better versions of themselves. And so that's why I chose media.

Meredith Aliff:

I love that. As a media major and with all of your minors, what do classes look like for that?

Makenzie Knore:

So I've become a pro at double dipping, which is basically requirements for my college and my majors and my minors. I could take one class to fit a whole bunch of each requirement, but classes, I take two music classes this semester, for example, and I have two English classes, I have one media class right now and one emerging technology and business and design class right now. So it's good for me because I like diversity throughout my day. So I wouldn't want to be taking five or six English classes all at once, because while I enjoy English, I would get bored doing the same thing over and over again. And so being able to go to a class where I'm composing music and then going to a class where I'm producing a film and then go to a class where I'm learning how to use Adobe products and then go to a class where I'm reading British lit, it's these different things and they're all related, hence why I have the majors and minors.

Meredith Aliff:

I love that answer. And I love what you said about figuring out what classes could double dip because I have found so much success in my college experience by literally just doing research about the classes. What requirement does this class fill? How many can it fill? And especially those first two years, I was double dipping like crazy, just trying to get everything finished. So I think that that's definitely something that people should consider.

Makenzie Knore:

Right. I mean, I have a Google sheet that is color coded with when I'm going to take classes, or when I plan to at least, and which one's double dip and things of the sort.

Meredith Aliff:

Yeah. Are there any specific classes or professors that you would want to give a little shout out to?

Makenzie Knore:

Yes, there are a whole bunch. I don't know if I can list them all, but first for any music majors, professor Hebel is amazing. He taught my music theory classes the first two semesters. I personally love music theory. That's just something that I'm very passionate about. From a media department standpoint, Matthew Crum is also very helpful. I had him for a broadcast class. I learned a lot through his class about Adobe, about how live television works. But I also work with him for Miami Television News, which is a ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ organization I am a part of, and now that I'm co-president of that organization, Matt and I have to get together all the time. And he really is making the media department here at Miami a better place. A lot of resources that haven't been used in years he's bringing back and he's making it more updated to the modern day rather than the previous technology.

A English professor that I really like is Stefanie Dunning. I had her for an African American literature course. And the reason I liked her was because the classes were always about how it related to current day. So it didn't feel like I was always in that history time period wondering, "What is the relevance?" And so she was really good at that.

Meredith Aliff:

So you talked a little bit about Miami Television News.

Makenzie Knore:

Yeah, so Miami Television News is one of the organizations I'm involved with. I am the co-president of Miami Television News and just became the co-president this past fall. So I am the newest exec member.

Meredith Aliff:

Congratulations.

Makenzie Knore:

Thank you. But it's just basically a ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ run broadcast organization. We do a lot of cool things. You can become an anchor, a reporter, editor, director, work with the cameras, work with the teleprompter audio equipment. I interviewed Hank Green this semester when he came for the lecture series. We also interviewed Carla Hall when she came for the lecture series. And so we do things like that. It's really a fun experience and I really love the organization. I joined my first year and did all the things that I said earlier that you could do with the organization, and so becoming a leader of it is also really rewarding.

I am also a part of ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ Gospel Singers, which is a new organization that I joined this semester, and it is what it sounds. It's we get together and sing gospel music and we have occasional performances at worship nights. It's really fun. It's a great time for me to kind of relieve my stress and work on my singing abilities. This summer back at home, I was a part of a community theater production and I knew coming back to Miami I would miss that. So I went on the hub, just like everybody should, looked for the organizations that were singing or musical based and this one just seemed to fit for me. I also play the piano, so sometimes I'll play the chords for them and things of that such. I am also in a lot of intramurals, so I'm on a volleyball team and I'm also on a softball team.

Meredith Aliff:

That's so fun. I am also in a musical based organization. I'm in an acapella group on campus, The Miami Misfits.

Makenzie Knore:

Fun.

Meredith Aliff:

Yes.

Makenzie Knore:

I love them.

Meredith Aliff:

And I completely agree with you, and it is such a stress reliever to just have something that's not about your grade, not about school, not about anything else, just singing with people that you care about and making really cool music.

Makenzie Knore:

Right. I mean, I always think about the work-life balance. You need a club or an organization for your profession, one for that stress relief and then one for your hobby. And so I feel like that one is more my stress relief organization.

Meredith Aliff:

I just want to pop back to high school just for a second because I'm interested in what did you do in high school that led to you saying, "I'm either going to teach or do media?"

Makenzie Knore:

That is a great question. So in high school, I would consider myself an introvert. And I did athletics, so I played volleyball, I played basketball up until my junior year and then I played softball. But there were times in high school where it was a struggle... especially with COVID, a struggle to do the activities that I was involved in, overcome some adversity and obstacles. And what really got me through were movies and films and music, and once COVID hit writing for film and writing for television and writing novels or short stories or music compositions were what I did in my free time.

And I think that's when I really clicked. My whole life, I've been watching this content or listening to this content to get me through hard times and now I'm just naturally creating it myself. Maybe this is something I want to do with the rest of my life. So that was really it, and with an education standpoint, I consider it very similar in the fact where you have to create the lesson plans and kind of tell a story through the class. When I was wanting to be in education, it would've been English or history, something that's very, very story based. So through those interactions, I really realized that what I want to do with my life is storytelling because that is what has helped me and I want to do that for other people.

Meredith Aliff:

That is such a cool background story. I love that. I knew that there was something, I was like, "What is your story for choosing that?" So outside of organizations and everything, have you done any internships with professors, just things kind of outside of school and orgs?

Makenzie Knore:

I am a ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ associate for the university communications and marketing department here on campus. So I would consider it kind of like an internship. I work a lot with their video production team to create videos. I am also a tour guide. I just got evaluated today and I passed, so yay.

Meredith Aliff:

Yay.

Makenzie Knore:

But that's also really fun because it is storytelling.

Meredith Aliff:

Absolutely.

Makenzie Knore:

I get to help these incoming ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs understand what college life is really about. I have not done any study away or abroad programs yet, but this January I will be going to Hollywood for a study away program and I'm really excited about it, especially as a media major.

Meredith Aliff:

Oh, yeah.

Makenzie Knore:

Going out to Los Angeles is something really exciting and see the studios. In fact, I really wanted to do this program since I found out about it, and so this summer I convinced my parents to take us on vacation to Los Angeles so I could be aware of the location and surroundings before I went out there, not with myself, I'll be with 15 other ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs and Professor Rice, but I'll be more by myself.

Meredith Aliff:

Absolutely, very independent.

Makenzie Knore:

So I was really excited to be able to get to see Los Angeles before going out there on a class.

Meredith Aliff:

Oh, I've always wanted to go to California. I've never been. Everybody knows the Hollywood sign. Everybody knows all these famous actors and actresses and musicians, and just to kind of immerse yourself in that. Is it a three week program?

Makenzie Knore:

It is a three week program, yes.

Meredith Aliff:

That is so cool. I cannot wait to hear about it.

Makenzie Knore:

It will be fun, I'm excited.

Meredith Aliff:

We got to keep in touch. I got to hear about LA and hanging out in Los Angeles. That's crazy.

Makenzie Knore:

I will gladly share all my pictures and stories from that trip.

Meredith Aliff:

Yes, please do. Well that's very exciting. I'm very excited for you. So you're over halfway done now. We're back to present day. Here we are. What are you thinking about doing for the rest of your Miami experience here?

Makenzie Knore:

First off, being over halfway done is a very scary thought for me. I love my time here at Miami. I don't want it to be over. But people always ask me what's my dream job? And I always say I have too many dreams to just pick one dream job. But really what I want to do with the rest of my life is what I'm doing now, just on a bigger scale. I would like to keep telling stories, whether that's in news or music and preferably all of it. I mean, what's stopping me from continuing along the music path and the film or TV path? But secondly, I always tell myself I either want to be an Avenger, Lin-Manuel Miranda, or a director of a famous film.

Meredith Aliff:

That is so fun. I love it.

Makenzie Knore:

Shoot for the stars, right?

Meredith Aliff:

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I love Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Makenzie Knore:

Me too.

Meredith Aliff:

It would be great to say I knew her when.

Makenzie Knore:

Right, that's what I'm thinking.

Meredith Aliff:

I knew her when. That's a great path. Are you planning on sticking around here? Are you planning on going in other places in the US? Where are you planting yourself?

Makenzie Knore:

My initial reaction is, no, I am not planning to stay in Ohio, but I would like to stay in the United States. I am currently on the hunt for internships for the summer of 2023, and I'm looking in places in Los Angeles, in New York, in Chicago, in Nashville, and yes in Cincinnati because I mean, even sports is something that I've been interested in as I'm sure you can tell from our talks. But so the Bengals would be a great place to work. So I'm just kind of looking all over and seeing kind of where I land up because the location is less important to me than what I'm able to be doing.

Meredith Aliff:

I wanted to jump back to what you said about being halfway through and how terrifying that is because I think everybody is so scared their first year in college or anticipating it and it's like all these nerves and I think it's important to note that those nerves don't go away. College is crazy and scary and fun and there's new opportunities all over the place, but it can be scary and daunting. I mean, I was talking with my family, because I'm starting to look at graduate programs, they were like, "Yeah, so I mean you're going to have to start getting things together because applications, you have to apply by November of next year." I was like, "What? I'm not ready for that." I am not at that place.

Makenzie Knore:

I feel like college is just one big adrenaline rush. And second of all, I think there's a lot of pressure put on high school seniors to pick something immediately and to specialize in particular things. And once I came to college at least I didn't feel that at all. I think it was the exact opposite of what I've been told in high school. It's less about specialization and more about expansion, finding who you truly are and you have all these different avenues to do so. And so as long as you find what you love, go for it because there will be something for you. High school ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵs shouldn't feel scared that they're choosing the right thing because it will come to you if you just continue to think about what you love.

Meredith Aliff:

Absolutely. And I think that that's really important to keep in mind when you're looking for majors is you don't have to do something because you think that you should. Do something that you love. Turn your hobby into your profession. Have fun with it. There's majors for literally everything now.

Makenzie Knore:

Right. I totally agree. I always talk about with my roommate, we get together every night and kind of talk about philosophical ideas because that's just what we do. But anything that is done with passion from that person is what people love. So if you're passionate about what you're doing, whether that is music or media, like me, or some science field or business, if you're passionate about it, you will be good at it and you will find something for you.

Meredith Aliff:

Yeah, and you'll thrive. I mean, you'll have a fulfilling life. Thinking back from freshman year of college to right now, what is the best decision, single best decision that you've made in college?

Makenzie Knore:

I think the best decision that I've made since starting college, it might sound cliche or generic, but it's staying at Miami where I'm free to transfer to wherever I want. If I wanted to transfer to a school that's maybe well known for media, I could have. But staying at Miami, I really think I'm getting the experience that I needed. Through Miami, I found connections that... through LinkedIn and the career center and things of the such that alumni from Miami want to talk to me, and I think that's so cool. And I'm sure as I'm searching for internships or professions, they will be willing to talk to me and kind of get me out of the college mode and into the professional world. And so not reverting back to my doubts of, "Oh, maybe I shouldn't study media," things like that. I didn't revert back on those doubts that I had once I first started college.

Meredith Aliff:

Yeah. I mean, just being confident in your decisions. Obviously it's led you to a really great place that you're in now and just having the confidence to be like, "This is what I think is going to help me out the most and I just got to stick with it and go for it." If you're going to do it, do it all the way.

Makenzie Knore:

Right. And especially with creative based majors, it's a lot of rejection. You don't just create things and then it's the award winning piece of whatever it is. So there's a lot of rejection and that allows doubts to creep in sometimes. So being able to have the confidence and the power to say, "I'm not... I will listen to your feedback and how I can better myself, but I won't let the doubts change my direction and the path that I'm on."

Meredith Aliff:

Yeah. No, I love that. And if you could talk to yourself or anybody coming in as a freshman, what advice would you give them? What would you say to them?

Makenzie Knore:

I would say don't be afraid to follow what you love. I talked about this a little bit earlier, but I'm going to emphasize it throughout my entire podcast because that is really what helped me and that's what I tell other people. I know... I mentioned my roommate earlier, we have talks all the time and sometimes when we both have identity crisis, we just stop. We pause and say, "What do we love?" Because if I just continue to think about that, everything will work out, even if it's as simple as getting all my course requirements in. If you're really passionate about biology, then take courses like that and I'm sure you'll finish your major in time. It just happens naturally like that. So once you follow what you love and what you're passionate about, everything will fall in line. That's choosing a college, that's choosing a major, that's obtaining a profession that you really enjoy and really just anything in life.

Meredith Aliff:

Definitely. I love that. Well, I have loved getting to hear your story and talk with you, and I wish you the best of luck. Thank you so much for coming on.

Makenzie Knore:

Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate it.

Meredith Aliff:

Yay. We did it.

Makenzie Knore:

Yay. Was I good? Was I all good?

Meredith Aliff:

You were so good.

Makenzie Knore:

Okay.

Meredith Aliff:

Makenzie Knore is double majoring in media and culture and creative writing with minors and music composition and emerging technology in business and design. After graduation, she plans to build a career in media as a professional storyteller. And thank you for listening to Major Insight. If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with your friends or anyone interested in navigating college life. Many more episodes are now available wherever podcasts are found.