Wagner College: Where Are They Now? An Interview with Justyna

Wagner College, SOUL Joel’s Alma matter, has been instrumental in launching his career in entertainment and hiring Soul Joel Productions for entertainment for various student and alumni events. What better way to give back to his Alma mater than to periodically spotlight fellow Wagner College Alumni on The Comedy Point’s website. This week The Comedy Point is proud to present Justyna Suroweic, founder and blogger at www.expatathome.com!

Add Justyna on on LinkedIn

Follow Justyna on Twitter: @JustynaSurowiec

How did your experience at Wagner College help you with your career?

Justyna:

I was a psychology/English major and my English degree actually has helped me the most, which is surprising because I chose the major just because I loved to write and read. With the advent of social media marketing, companies are looking for people with sharp and solid writing skills, who are good communicators. I think the English program at Wagner is excellent and the teachers expect a lot out of you, so I tried really hard to write well, get good grades, and meet their expectations. When I moved to Australia, my writing skills got me promoted in 6 months and sponsored by my employer so I could stay in the country longer.

Do you still keep in touch with other Wagner Alumni?

Justyna:

Some of my closest friends are Wagner Alumni. Because I was involved in so many different activities at Wagner, I was able to meet different people with varying interests–that always makes for a good circle of friends. Also, as an RA and holding active leadership positions on campus, I spent a lot of time with specific people and that helped friendships grow as well.

What advice would you give others that are trying to break into your field?

Justyna:

I am currently working as a freelance writer and marketer because I love the freedom, the hourly pay is higher than in a lot of positions, and I don’t like being in an office from 9-5. The advice I would give to people trying to work in freelance is to identify what skills set you apart from others. Even with a Master’s degree, I am still selling my writing skills because that is what employers need. I would also recommend using social media, specifically LinkedIn to see what others are doing in your field and connect with them. Also, try to form as many relationships at your current job/internship as you can. A former colleague of mine went to start a new business and now I write some of his marketing collateral. So network, network, network and stress what you love doing.

What is the one thing that helped you most throughout your life?

Justyna:

Support from friends and family. I am in an interesting time in my life where I am still trying to figure out what I want to do and it is sometimes discouraging to not have it figured out. I, like everyone else, need motivation at times and my family and friends have been there believing in me and my potential. I am not scared to ask them for help or advice because I know they have my best in mind and will try to help me with honest opinions.

What were your biggest challenges earlier on and throughout your career?

Justyna:

Staying focused. There are so many things I wanted to do and still want to do, but, unfortunately, you cannot do everything. So I wrote down all of the things I wanted to do, figured out which ones would get me to where I thought I wanted to go, and which ones I thought would be short-lived. Modeling was one of those. I was always tall so I thought it was something I should do, but found it unfulfilling and I did not see myself doing it for the long-term. With all of the other things I was doing, modeling was something I knew I had to drop. I haven’t looked back.

Are you happy doing what you’re doing?

Justyna:

Yes, for the moment, but I always have my eyes open for a new opportunity or adventure. Freelancing allows me to follow my passion and write, while working on various projects with interesting companies and people. It also gives me time to research and write for my own blog, www.expatathome.com, which I love doing.