Alumni Spotlight: Brittany Cook ‘19
I come from a small town in Georgia and was the first in my family to graduate from high school, let alone attend college. I’ve always had big dreams and a desire to make a difference in people’s lives. I chose Anna Maria for the psychology program, and because the campus community felt personal and like home while offering lots of opportunities and potential for growth.
Initially, I thought about being a counselor, and although the classes were interesting, something was missing for me. Thanks to the nurturing atmosphere at the College, where faculty really get to know their students, I received the support I needed to find my passion. I took a screenwriting elective with Professor Travis Maruska, and that course instantly resonated with me. It was there and then that I knew what I wanted to do, which it so become a narrative designer – that is, to tell a story through media.
Anna Maria doesn’t offer any media-related majors, but that didn’t stop me – and the school encouraged me by providing the tools I needed to success in a self-designed major: media writing and communications. It follows the guidelines found for most communication degrees, but mind provides in-depth study in a unique concentration: writing for film, television, and even video games.
Through the College, I did an internship with a filming company in Worcester, which was an amazing experience and I made many connections there. After graduation, I plan to go to Salt Lake City where I’ll be assisting a narrative team at a company called Avalanche, a branch of Warner Brothers Studios that specializes in game development.
My hope it to inspire others and affect lives by way of my art and creativity. This is my passion and I appreciate and am humbled by the journey that helped me make my big dreams a reality.
Note: This article was first published in the summer 2019 issue of the Anna Maria Alumni Magazine. The College has since launched Digital and Social Media Design, Graphic Design, and Video and Photographic Arts as three new majors for students pursuing similar passions.
