With grad school application season in full swing, Her Campus Cal State LA reached out to one of the amazing Cal State LA alums headed towards a Master’s degree. Trinity Joseph graduated from Cal State LA in 2014 with a degree in Television, Film and Media Studies, option Broadcast Journalism. During her time at Cal State LA, she was involved in a variety of organizations, from cheerleading to Golden Eagle Radio. She is now nearing the end of her first quarter at University of California, Berkeley’s prestigious Graduate School of Journalism. With a concentration in Video Reporting and Storytelling, Trinity has been able to put her previous journalism education to the test, as well as further developing her passions. From co-producing various projects to being appointed as Women of Color Initiative Project Director for the graduate student government, the opportunities for Trinity have been endless. Read on to hear about how Cal State LA helped Trinity on the path of her incredibly promising future.
What made you choose to go to Cal State LA?
Attending Cal State LA was not apart of my plan. To be honest I wasn’t even aware of Cal State LA until I started researching colleges. That’s the best part. This school was a beautiful surprise. I came here to learn enough to transfer. I ended up learning enough to never want to leave. So no, I didn’t choose Cal State LA. Even though I couldn’t see the greatness in that opportunity when I started, it was always apart of my divine plan. It was a decision that has led me to where I am now. In a way, maybe Cal State LA chose me. Maybe I thought I came to leave but God had already arranged another path for me. I thank God that the path led me to that school.
Did you always know that you wanted to pursue a Master’s degree?
I have always been a curious, insightful, and sort of nosy person. That has made me love education. I’m so invested in what I hear people say or see people do. In a classroom is when a person really gets the opportunity to dive deep in that curiosity. You get the opportunity to discuss and debate your understanding of the world. I like to shape things, define things, and change things. I don’t know if I really knew that I wanted to pursue a Master’s degree. I always knew that my hunger for knowledge made me who I am. Getting my Master’s is just another way to continue loving the process of exploring what I don’t know. I like to learn. As simple as that sounds it has been the backbone of my education endeavors.
Why did you choose UC Berkeley for grad school?
Every time I talk about attending UC Berkeley I give a different answer and I think that’s because every day I learn something new about this place. Three months ago I would of said I chose UC Berkeley because it was progressive, liberating, and challenging. I’m realizing now that this program is a good fit for me because it scares me. I am being thrown in situations where I am not always confident. That’s important because growing is an uncomfortable process. I want to be afraid and nervous at times, because that means I am forcing myself to be better. I am not relying on natural ability but building a skill. Anytime you are building something, it does scare you. You start questioning what you’re building or even if you want to build it. However, the builder never questions the brick she’s holding. I believe that is the key element in all of this crazy madness. I never question my love for storytelling. I only question if I’m doing it right. The truth is you don’t know if you’re doing anything right. We’re all confused here but there’s something inspiring about being confused. Confusion makes great questions. I ask myself questions daily about decisions I make in my program and I never stop. I hope I chose UC Berkeley because I want to always have questions that scare me sometimes.
How has your experience at Cal State LA helped you in grad school?
There are so many ways my experience at Cal State LA has helped me in my Master’s program. The support that I received was overflowing. My professor Tony Cox was so hard on me. I remember the first day of TVF 292, which is the Introduction to Newswriting class and he told the class if they weren’t prepared to work to leave. People actually left the classroom during a break because he was that intimidating. I knew then he would be a mentor. I wasn’t interested in being coddled. I was interested in being great. Cox has a way of making you hate him so much that you love having him as your mentor. You don’t really hate him. You just hate that you’re working more than you ever have before to sometimes not even get an A on the assignment. It’s not the grade you aim for in his classes. It’s the feedback he gives. It’s the ways he helps you improve. He comes to teach and he doesn’t waste time on failed potential. I believe students need that.
In my major is where I met what I call my ‘journalism sisters.’ We became a support system and you need that in this type of industry. They’re my family and we share our highs and lows. It’s difficult being a woman in this field and we rely on each other. To be surrounded by women who are accomplishing amazing things is the inspiration that reminds me that I can’t give up. I have friends who genuinely want to see me do well. It’s not a competition here. It’s love. As cheesy as that sounds, it is the most important thing to have because it is a lonely competitive field at times. You need to believe in people and have people believe in you.
The Television, Film and Media (TVF) department in general has been my greatest supporters. Karm Cooper who works in the TVF office is also a talented force in the world. I love hearing about the projects she’s working on. She has also gone out of her way to align me with resources and schedule my classes around my specific interests. I probably shouldn’t be saying all of this but she definitely took a special interest in my success. I am so grateful for that.
The Pan African Studies (PAS) department played a huge role in defining my stories and how I tell them. I am most free when I am there. I can’t talk about my experiences at Cal State LA without mentioning the great depths this department goes through to ensure the happiness of their students. I will be giving back so much to this department one day. There are too many moments to share but I am at UC Berkeley because of them. They are at the core of my success. I get emotional talking about it because the energy you feel in those classes makes you whole. Not only am I more aware and intelligent, but I am a better human being because these outstanding professors.
What are your duties as the Women of Color Initiative Project Director for the Graduate Assembly?
Essentially I provide support for women of color on campus. Right now my focus is on the Empowering Women of Color Conference (EWOCC). Next year will be the 31st year we are hosting it at UC Berkeley. It’s a big event for the Bay Area and I am excited to give out more information soon. We are in the process of planning it and it’s an incredible space.
I have some dope events on my agenda. I’m going to host Voices of Color, which is a spoken word poetry event for women of color. I am also organizing forums where women of color can discuss experiences and ways of healing from racism, discrimination, and feelings you get at prestigious predominately white institutions.
What are your favorite projects that you have worked on while at Berkeley?
Right now my co-producer and I are working on a story about two best friends who were separated when one was sent to prison. I love visual storytelling and we are telling an often over told topic in a very innovative and delicate way. There’s a lot of room for creative freedom. This story matters. I like thought provoking long form pieces. We are hoping it will change the way people see prisoners, but also the way we see ourselves when we make mistakes.
If you could give advice to freshmen at Cal State LA, what would you say?
I would tell all incoming and current freshmen at Cal State LA to be involved in campus activities. That is how you find your support system, your creativity, and discover passions you didn’t know you had. I was a cheerleader, hosted a radio show, hosted Midnight Madness, and worked for Annual Giving. I always really busy but I was so happy. I was getting better at my crafts and I was having a great time doing it.
Also, don’t stress over a major. So much pressure is put into that decision but just take the classes that challenge you and inspire you to think. That could be one major or two. Don’t confine yourself to one space but explore many opportunities.