Preparing for the Future
Chris Weatherly
A coalition of Minneapolis College graphic design students, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Minnesota Malaria Community Advisory Board (CAB) and the University of Minnesota (UMN) Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility (CGHSR) developed a unique graphic and social media communication strategy to connect with local communities around international travel and infectious disease.
Minneapolis College design student Chris Weatherly concluded that working on a design project with Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) staff helped him avoid “imposter syndrome.”
Weatherly and Tumi Nguyen were awarded a contract for their poster and social media designs, chosen from a field of 25 Minneapolis College students on an initiative to call attention to malaria infections from international travel.
“The staff at MDH were very kind and encouraging,” Weatherly said. “Collaborating with them has helped with ‘imposter syndrome.’ It happens to most people when they're just getting out of school. It's easy to feel like your skills aren't good enough, or that you don't have enough experience.
“Working with MDH, however, has definitely been a confidence boost. It's confirmed that yes, the skills I learned at Minneapolis College have prepared me for the workforce. If there are other people reading this who are about to graduate, I would tell them to listen to your instructors. They're going to tell you not to get discouraged, and they're absolutely right.”
As a new alum, Weatherly already is participating in the college's career mentorship program that's offered by the Career Services department. “I would definitely plug that program and recommend it to current students,” he said. It's a wonderful way to get advice and guidance from a working professional in your field before you even graduate – not just design, but all majors.”
Chris said his classroom experience with Adobe Illustrator was instrumental for the MDH project. “I had never touched the software before I started my web design degree around two years ago, and I think that's a testament to the strength of the program.”
“Another way I got valuable experience with Illustrator was through my student employment as a graphic designer at Career Services,” he said. “I don't think I would be as confident with the software as I am if I hadn't had that opportunity to practice what I'd learned in class. The feedback that I got from my supervisors was also a crucial learning experience. I strongly recommend that everyone find a way to apply what they've learned outside of class. It can also help to build your portfolio before you graduate.”
Imposter no more.