Julia Perry ’20: School of Communication MVP

Emerson Today is profiling recent graduates to hear about their time at College and their plans for the future.

Hometown: Medfield, Massachusetts

Q: Tell us about your time at Emerson:

Perry: At Emerson, I was a Business of Creative Enterprises major (as part of the first graduating class), and an E3 (Emerson Experience in Entrepreneurship) minor. I participated in various on campus jobs and orgs, but the most meaningful experiences of my time at Emerson was my internship at the American Repertory Theatre (ART) my junior year, and my part-time job at SoulCycle Back Bay my junior and senior years. I learned so much working at ART, and while working at SoulCycle, I was able to make my best friends. 

Q: What was your favorite class and why?

Perry: My favorite class was E3! Being a part of the 2018-2019 cohort was incredible, and I learned so much over the course of that entire year. Lu Ann Reeb, the professor, is the best, and she creates this environment that’s just so welcoming, but also challenging in a good way. I think the experience I had in E3 shaped a lot of who I became in the later part of my college experience. 

Q: What is your favorite memory from your time at Emerson?

Perry: Going to the castle! Kasteel Well was by far my favorite semester at Emerson for so many reasons. I met my best friend from Emerson there and I got to see so many beautiful places. Being able to wake up and explore is my absolute favorite thing to do, and so getting a semester to do just that was absolutely incredible. It really fueled my passion for travel and commitment to seeing as much of the world as I possibly can. This trip also motivated me to do the Australia winter session this past December/January, which was equally as thrilling. 

Q: What song or movie best encapsulates or most reminds you of your college years?

Perry: The song “Younger” by Miley Cyrus! I believe Rosie Ryden (sorry if it was someone else) made a video of our time at the castle with that song playing in the background, and every time I hear it I’m just hit with such a beautiful sense of nostalgia. The song is also about growing up, and I think for me, the castle helped put into perspective who I wanted to be when I “grew up” and how I was going to get there. 

Q: What are you most proud of?

Perry: Winning second place at the E3 Expo, and winning the School of Communication MVP (Most Valuable Peer) Award on the same day (which was also my 21st birthday!).

I had a crazy week with some not-so-great personal things going on, but I channeled so much of that energy into refining my pitch and proposal for E3, and so when I came in second, I felt so proud of myself. About 30 minutes after the E3 ceremony, I rushed over to Paramount for the first annual SOC Awards, and was so proud again when I won the MVP Award. I spent a lot of my time in college helping make the BCE program the best it could be through creating a mentorship program for incoming freshman, and it felt really cool to be recognized for that. 

Q: What are you doing (or hoping to do) next?

Perry: I start my first “big girl job” on June 1 with Massachusetts Financial Services (MFS). I am a territory sales support representative, which is the entry-level role in their sales program. I never guessed I would be working in the finance industry, but MFS is an incredible company that I had the opportunity to intern with this past semester, and it was their amazing culture that stood out to me, making me want to be a part of it!

I am hoping to continue traveling the world (once it is safe to do so), and receive my MBA sometime in my 20s.