Meet Julia Seitz | Digital Student Storyteller & Aspiring Communications Professional

We had the good fortune of connecting with Julia Seitz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julia, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk is an inevitable part of life and ultimately one we should embrace, rather than run away from. Some things will land, others will fail, and regardless of the outcome we can always LEARN. Risk often has a negative connotation but can be viewed as positive or neutral if we reframe our thinking. I understand that I’m young, but I believe we can all implement risk taking into our lives and make it a muscle that we grow over time. Starting with low risk challenges like trying a new food or wearing shoes you usually wouldn’t reach for might be the catalyst for something much bigger. As an aspiring professional and student, I understand that I should use this time to try things and make mistakes. I pitch campaign ideas to my supervisors that sometimes sound crazy, try new editing styles, and am constantly experimenting. I’ve learned to trust myself and know that if something fails, I know for the future and keep it moving. In my personal life, I also have learned to say yes to opportunities and lean into fear. I’ve gone skydiving 15,000 feet above ground, caved underground, and can probably be found wearing hot pink in a room full of neutrals. It’s honestly really good to get more comfortable being yourself, and I couldn’t do it without taking the risks I do.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m currently working towards a career in Digital Journalism and Marketing. I am currently the Digital Student Storyteller at Farmingdale State College (FSC), where I am responsible for co-managing our university social media platforms, creating digital content/short-form videos, and live reporting of campus events. I began as an unpaid intern in August 2023, and was promoted to an employee in October; this was a first for the office and my role was created uniquely for me. I think what sets me apart is that I’m truly a workaholic and take my job so seriously, in a good way. I really care about the student experience and am constantly thinking of how I can highlight our institution. I also recognize how much my role can help me grow as a professional and try to seize every single opportunity I’m given; in combination with 18 credit semesters and two other jobs, I still prioritize my responsibilities and strive for excellence. I always joke that I care more about our university social media than my own and have it set to the default login on my phone. The journey wasn’t always easy for me. I began my college career in a different institution and completed my first year completely online due to COVID. I am a huge people person and was miserable, so I decided it was time for a change. I craved social interaction and involvement, and even though I didn’t know I would get it, it was always a goal for me. After transferring to FSC, I stayed under the radar for about a year and switched major three times before stumbling across the marketing intern posting on Instagram. I felt passionate about marketing and finally knew what I wanted to pursue, so I took my shot at applying. A year later, I can say it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
I also have grown to be confident in my role, but it wasn’t always like this. Everyday was an opportunity to try. On the first day of classes/ my internship, I was given full responsibility to cover the “Donuts and Directions” event on social media. While I was instructed to capture photos and videos of students to batch and post on Instagram, I was given full creative freedom. Although this experience was nerve wracking, it was always empowering to know my supervisors trusted my ideas and had confidence in my abilities. That day I interviewed fellow students, filmed trending video ideas, and experimented with different Instagram story formats/features. My first reel video hit record numbers in views, and students and staff gave positive feedbacks. With over 80 events per semester, I threw myself into each one aiming to do my best. This approach has given me confidence and shown my team that I can handle high profile events like guest speakers Eli Manning, GianCarlo Esposito, and covering fast paced events like the New York Islanders and out University concert with Swae Lee.
I think a lot of people view social media as an “easy” job, but I want to teach people that there is truly so much that goes into it. I am always applying lessons from my classes like technical writing, video editing, principles of color, timing, placement – you name it. I really put my whole heart into what I do – going to every event, connecting with people, spending hours editing. There is so much behind the scenes that go into the end product. In the digital landscape, social media is many people’s main source of information. Rather than to view this as a challenge, I see it as an opportunity to connect and relate. I want to be remembered for always working hard and caring about student satisfaction above anything else. Farmingdale changed my life for the better and I want to highlight all it has to offer.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Here’s my best week ever itinerary as a native Long Islander and New Yorker who loves being outside and trying new things:

Everyday starts with good coffee, so Sweetie Pie’s, Soulbrew, Bayshore Bean, and Georgio’s are musts. We’d start out the week by exploring some of my favorite trails and park – Caumsett State Park, the Cold Spring Harbor trails, and Jaynes Hill are my favorites. For some lunch and exploring, Huntington Village and Northport Village are the best. We can walk by the water, hit up Rosa’s or Skipper’s for lunch, and head to Lic’s for the best ice cream on Long Island. Later in the week we can head over to Robert Moses for a beach day and Jones Beach Theater for an outdoor concert. Once it’s time for the weekend, we’re out to NYC. We can start the day at Soulcycle, then grab some breakfast before we stroll around Central Park. Since there are so many great food places to choose from, we could go on a food crawl before our big night out. Red Lion is one of my favorite spots for a night full of live music and great people. We’ll spend the next day at the farmers market, checking out lower Manhattan, and obviously taking the LIRR back for the full experience.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family deserves so much credit. My parents have always set the standard for what it means to be hardworking and dedicated. My mom, Alicia, came to the US when she was 20 years old to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. She’s worked to get her Masters and PhD, teach aspiring nurses, and has served her hospital for over 30 years. She’s worked for everything she has with a smile on her face, and has taught my brother and I the importance of persistence. My dad, Jeff, has worked in finance for his entire career and supported his clients like they’re his friends. Both my parents, aside from their work ethic, are amazing people. They are kind, supportive, and so wise. I felt really lost in my first years of college and truly had no idea what to do with my life. They supported me in every decision I made and uplifted me throughout. My brother, Michael, is really my right hand man. He’s helped in every department whether it be professional, academic, personal, and everything in between. He gives me the tough love I don’t always want to hear, but definitely need. Also a huge shoutout to the Marketing & Communications office at Farmingdale State College. The Marketing and Communications Office has always demonstrated utmost trust in me and my ideas. Since the beginning of my internship , my supervisors have encouraged me to execute unique social media campaigns and take chances with my work. They have given me the opportunities to learn and grow, and I am eternally grateful. Nicole, Tevin, and Vito are truly my second family and make me look forward to my work everyday.

Website: https://seitjr.wixsite.com/beyond-the-res

Instagram: juliaseitzzz

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/juliarseitz

Image Credits
Tevin Foster – FSC Photographer Vito Postiglione – FSC Student Content Producer