Full name: Tejnoor Kaur
Faculty/Major: Cinema & Media Studies
Astrology sign: Taurus
Hobbies: Planning events for my club and watching TV shows.
Why did you choose Cinema & Media Studies as your major(s)?
It was actually a long process. When I was younger (elementary and middle school) I always wanted to work in entertainment. Going forward in life, it became clear that my parents wouldn’t support any career in entertainment. Growing up, I loved movies the way that all kids did, but they became an obsession when I was about 12. Going to college or university was no longer of interest to me by the time that we got to applications in high school. However, the plan had been to apply to Sheridan College for animation. Then I noticed I had necessary prerequisites to apply for University and felt that I should take advantage of that opportunity. So, I went with university and applied for the Communications Technology program since that was the course I excelled in at high school. On a whim, while scrolling through all of the programs, the cinema & media studies program caught my eye and I applied.
Who are the people who inspire you most? Why?
A lot of people inspire me. I can’t pick just a few. They also change day-to-day but Bhai Bidhi Chand is definitely one of them. He’s the hero of my favourite story in sikh history. Rihanna also inspires me because I feel like she embodies feminism, and she’s an incredibly talented artist. My little sister and brother inspire me as well because, among many other qualities, I admire how intelligent, caring, and strong they are. Various vegan activists on social media like John Lewis (Badass Vegan) because of how hard they work to get out the message of the importance of a vegan lifestyle. Leo DiCaprio, because duh. Tarsem Singh because I’m a big fan of his artistic style, even though I hated mirror mirror (ironically, Lily Collins is one of my favourite actresses and style icons). I meet new people who become inspirations. People who used to be inspirations sometimes stop being because of new distasteful information I learn about them
Quote that you live by?
There are a lot. Here’s one of them: “Progress is impossible without change.”
If there was one thing you could go back and tell your first-year self what would it be?
1. Get involved.
2. Stand up for what you believe in. I wouldn’t want to say too much.
If you could drop everything and go somewhere right now where would it be?
At this point in time, I really want to go to Ireland. That’s the first place that comes to mind.
Where is your favourite place to hang out at York?
I love spending my free time on campus going to events hosted by student clubs/governments. Otherwise, I enjoy hanging with friends in the Underground or in a Student Centre office.
What is the most interesting thing you’ve learned during your time at York?
I have learned that I genuinely gain so much more knowledge outside of classes than inside them.
What are you hoping to do after you graduate?
My mind keeps changing. I was planning on applying for business-related grad school programs so that I could combine that with media—something like public relations or publicity. I’m not so much interested in working predominantly in production. But school is expensive and I don’t think I really have a knack for the existing education system. So now I intend to work for a year after graduating and then see if I still feel I need or want more schooling.