College can be an eye-opening experience, and sometimes people’s eyes are opened to a whole new world of possibilities. Take Angelina Pronti. She came to TC3 with a focus: she wanted to study and work with film. But an interesting thing happened to her while she was earning her digital cinema degree, which she completed in May of 2025. She discovered new opportunities, and realized that she had more to offer the world. Now she works in Ithaca as the Promotions and Marketing Director for Cayuga Radio Group.

TC3 was a great stepping stone toward finding a job, and it also taught me responsibility and how to navigate adulthood and advocate for myself. Along the way, I also met some genuinely great people.

Why did you choose to attend Tompkins Cortland? I chose Tompkins Cortland because it offered an affordable education that was close to home, along with the film classes that I wanted to take.

How did your college experience at Tompkins Cortland prepare you for what came next in your life? My college experience prepared me for the job market through career-focused classes that taught essential skills, including interviewing, writing resumes and cover letters, networking, and building professional connections.

What has been your career journey, and how did your time at TC3 impact your path? TC3 broadened my perspective on what I could excel at. When I first started, I was focused solely on working in film, but by the time I graduated, I felt confident pursuing a career in any area of the media industry.

Who at TC3 had the greatest positive impact on your experience or your future? My teachers had the greatest positive impact on my experience at TC3 and my future endeavors. Just to name a few: Joe Salzone, Don Perkins, Maja Anderson, Westbrook Shortell, and Keith Millman. 

My freshman seminar teacher, Joe Salzone, helped connect me with two internships- both of which led to job offers. He played a huge role in helping me build strong professional connections, and now I get to work alongside him at Cayuga Media Group.

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to yourself if you could communicate with yourself when you started at TC3? I would tell my past self that everything will work out exactly the way it is meant to, and to keep working hard towards your goals. When I started TC3, I was worried that finding a stable job in the current market would be difficult, but in the end, it turned out better than I expected.