Posted September 24, 2019
By Maria Jutton, Dean's Communications Fellow
Qhira Bonds knew what she wanted to study in college after working for a video production
program at her high school. And when she visited the South Carolina campus and learned
about the School of Journalism and Mass Communications’ visual communications major,
she knew Columbia was where she wanted to study it. Now in her junior year, Bonds
describes her major as “all-encompassing.”
“My focus is photography, but I get experience in graphic design even though that
might not be where I see myself going,” she says. “You can get that experience and
it honestly might change what you want to do with your life.”
Although her career plans have changed several times during her time at South Carolina,
Bonds has been able to explore her options through internships at the university.
As a freshman, she worked as a social media intern for Green Quad, a residence hall
focused on sustainability.
During her sophomore year, she branched out and became a public relations and communications
intern for South Carolina’s athletics department. Bonds is also a member of the South
Carolina Student Government’s communications team, an opportunity she heard about
through other vis comm students.
In summer 2020, she hopes to study abroad in Europe or the Galapagos Islands, possibly
using her environmental science minor to explore sustainability. After graduation,
Bonds hopes to work in the communications department of the United Nations, National Geographic or a sustainable fashion or beauty company.
Maria Jutton
Maria Jutton is a fourth-year journalism student and Dean's Communications Fellow
at the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. She is especially passionate
about international communications and will pursue overseas work after she graduates
in May 2020.