Gabriella (Chang) Yan
Hi everyone, my name is Gabriella (Chang) Yan. I am a graduate student from Fordham University, pursuing a master's degree at Gabelli School of Business in Media Management. I am also an international student from China. I have a passion for film and television production. New York has always been my dream city to live and work, so after graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 2019, majoring in Econ & Accounting and Film & Media Studies, I decided to come to NYC to have a fresh start. I believe it is one of the best decisions I have made. So far, I have met many wonderful people and had plenty of excellent working experience in the city before the pandemic started. I am a film lover and always want to participate in film productions. In Santa Barbara, I produced two student films, and one got premiered at the local International Film Festival (SBIFF). I also volunteered and interned at the same film festival for two years.
After coming to New York, I want to know more fields of work besides film, so I got an opportunity to work at 2019 New York Fashion Week with an incredible Latin American fashion company. It was such a mind open experience for me knowing the fashion industry better. Starting in February 2020, I got an internship at National Geographic Encounter's marketing and sales department. During my work there, I have gained plenty of experience in communicating with different clients, understanding what their needs are and making sure they are satisfied with our services. I have also developed some projects in promoting our attraction to potential organizations and universities in New York State. Meanwhile, I have maintained perfect grades at Fordham and worked as GAs for professors and academic advising office at Gabelli School of Business.
More about myself, I am a positive person and believe everything will get better soon. I love watching movies and television series when I am free. Going to the movie theater at least once in a week, or visiting museums in the city were my way of relaxing. I genuinely hope things will go back to normal soon. I also an amateur fashion lover, and I will follow bloggers on social media to get some fashion inspiration. Books are my best companion during the quarantine time, from the characters in the novels, I could experience so many different lives. I know travel is a luxury work to say now, but I have traveled to many places around the world, and that is how I see the world differently, from books actually to go to the place myself. I sincerely hope I could stay in the city and land a job after my graduation this December because my story with the city has not over yet.