Student Spotlight: Nicole Wruth

My name is Nicole Wruth and I grew up on a sheep and dairy farm outside Kenton and then Neepawa. I’m currently in my first year of the Media and Communications program at Assiniboine.

I was an exchange student in Taiwan before attending the University of Manitoba to get a degree in Fine Arts and Education. I was a public-school teacher for six years where I taught in Churchill, Gillam, Winkler and Rolling River School Division. I taught dance, drama, art and was also a home room teacher. I enjoyed my teaching career, but eventually I decided that it was time to make a career change. Media and Communications has always been on my mind; I had actually looked at the program when I was in high school, but I never pursued it until recently.

I have been loving the Media and Communications program, and have learned so many new and different skills. Gaining skills in front of and behind the camera, radio broadcasting, editing, graphics, audio and so much more. A career change can seem a bit daunting at times, but I feel that I am transitioning my career and life goals in the right direction. I have so many creative ideas that I want to share, and it’s always been the confidence and technical skills that have held me back from executing these ideas. With the skills I’m gaining through the program, I can start bringing my ideas to life.

I'm really enjoying the hands-on and ‘learn by doing’ approach within the program. Being able to learn new skills and then apply those skills to hands-on projects and assignments has made the transition to going back to school refreshing and I am excited to come into class every day. Everything we learn and do in class can be applied to a career within the industry. When we studied radio broadcasting, we were actually hosting our own shows, and when we were doing weekly news casts, we were out on the streets doing the exact things that a news journalist would do.

Something that has really stood out to me about this program is how students get to try so many different aspects of media programming, many of which we probably would have never thought about trying or doing before coming into the program.

There have been many highlights throughout the year. A big one for me was the opportunity to create my own mini-documentary. There were many steps to this project. My focus was Dakota Burton, an athlete on the Cougars Women’s volleyball team whose story shows us that despite what you have gone through, you can still have the strength and ability to take control of your life. I was partnered with her as my subject, and it went really well. I was able to demonstrate skills in interviewing, storytelling and camera work. I was proud of the outcome, and really surprised myself with what I was able to create. Other highlights include; being the host for the Prairie Hearts Show broadcasted on Bell Fibe TV1. Seeing my video work on the "big screen" at the Winter Fair was also pretty cool, along with seeing myself and classmates work broadcasted on the CTV National News when we were in Boston, MA covering the Cougars hockey team at the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s Women’s Division II Championship tournament held this year.

Another huge highlight is that I really enjoy working with my instructors. They bring so much knowledge and personal experiences from their time within the industry. They’re so eager to help out and always make time for you. I have also enjoyed sharing a laugh with my classmates! I am very happy to have such a great group of classmates and instructors.

I am definitely looking forward to the second year of the program, and I can’t wait to get back into the studio to further my experiences and learning opportunities. The new Center for Creative Media (CCM) has been amazing to work in. The spaces are phenomenal, and I really feel like the environment we learn and work in is so important when it comes to the creative process. When we have access to the technology and equipment offered to us within the CCM, there are no limits when it comes to our creativity or what we can produce. I mean, it’s pretty amazing to have a real video broadcasting studio and radio station!

I’ve always had this inner push to work on television, but I’ve never known what that meant or what it involved. I still have another year to go in the program, and things could shift and change as I learn more about the career possibilities ahead of me, but being able to pursue freelance video work, produce and host shows on different platforms, and having the freedom to choose the projects I work on is a goal I’d like to work towards.

I’m proud of myself for having the courage to uproot my career and try something new. There are certainly worries that come with that, but I’m so glad I pushed past that. Throughout the years I have realized you don’t have to only have that one focus in life, that one passion – you can be free to explore many things. Having a variety of life experiences is so important. All those "random" things I have done in my life were never a waste, but only enrich the projects, jobs, or conversations I have.

My advice is to not stress about what you want to do or be straight out of high school - or at any age for that matter. Just do something that sparks your curiosity big or small. Maybe you do it for many years, or only a month, but by just doing something, it will open your mind and introduce you to other things that you could enjoy. Never fear doing something for the first time, you just never know what you are capable of until you just go for it.

I’m so excited to return to Assiniboine for my second-year of the program, let’s see what’s next!

To check out Nicole’s media projects go to:

• Instagram
• YouTube
• Spotify