Reflections of Being a Toro

CSUDH Alumni Leah Nesje says that her experience as a Toro paved the way to a successful career as a Senior Copywriter at a pharmaceutical advertising agency.

"My route to college and my career was not a straight road," Nesje said. "There were many turns and twists along the way that helped shape the person I am today. After ten years in retail, the 2009 economic crash, and the constant frustration I felt when someone with less experience and more education was hired above me, I decided it was time to go to college."

She declared herself a Communications major in the Journalism option because she felt writing had always been a strong suit and she had written for the school newspaper in high school. But after taking Professor Russo's Advertising Strategy and Writing course, she quickly switched from Journalism to AD/PR.

"Journalism inspired my curiosity, but advertising inspired my creativity," Nesje said. "Since then, I've found myself in a career that satisfies both my curiosity and creativity."

During her senior year at CSUDH, Nesje got an internship at an advertising agency, where she expressed her interest in copywriting. Although she did not have a portfolio to present at the time, she still worked hard to land an internship in the copywriting department. Nesje was eventually hired as an official copywriter before finishing her senior year.

Six years later, Nesje is now a Senior Copywriter at Precision Effect, a pharmaceutical advertising agency in Orange County, California.

"The Advertising/PR program has given me a leg up in advertising as a copywriter," Nesje said. "That conceptual thinking skill that I learned at CSUDH has allowed me to excel. My time studying journalism helped me a lot, too. I learned how to tell a great story, and I know my way around an interview. These specific techniques combined with Professor Russo's common-sense career tips (Don't show up late to a meeting with Starbucks in your hand!), has made me one proud Toro!"