Bear Studios did a lot in 2020. Read more to view our "Rewind 2020", a comprehensive overview of our year, work, and success stories. 

Streamlining at school can be a great way to maximize our time and energy while minimizing unnecessary commitments to focus on what matters to each of us.

When I sit down to rewatch one of my videos, I am reminded once again of the incredible brevity of time.  I've realized that both the ups and downs are always going to be present in my life, and thus can be vital learning experiences if reflected on properly.

I've learned that the best way to overcome my weakness is to put myself in uncomfortable circumstances that test my levels of confidence and familiarity.  I have had a great deal of awkward conversations, churns in my stomach, and painful rejections, but as I challenged myself to keep going, I finally reached success.

My goal is to make a fantastic meal.  This trial and error will take time and effort, but it is worth it.  It is important, at the end of the day, for your meal to taste good for you.

To avoid burning out early, investing in activities that encourage exploring multiple interests at once is ideal.  I joined Bear Studios, a student-run consulting firm that works with local St. Louis startups, as a design fellow.  I found an intersection between business and the creative fields.  I was able to test how to apply the concepts I learned in my art and design courses against a potential interest in business consulting.

If you consistently learn about yourself through self-reflection, open yourself to new ideas, take other people's perceptions less seriously, push your comfortable limits with challenging goals, and learn to embrace failure, then you are well on your way to achieving personal growth.

Since my start at WashU last semester, the most important lesson I have learned has revolved around the value of the word "reframe".

As a member of Bear Studios, a student-run strategy firm and LLC, I actively use the resources and knowledge that I can contribute at the time to add value to our clients' projects.  I may not have all the answers, but that does not mean I should not leverage what I do know to make the biggest impact I can.

I have been with Bear Studios since March of 2017.  I'm still asking stupid questions, and I'm still learning the job.  But I think that's the point: I am learning.

My main takeaway from this experience was that while it's useful to have a standardized tool kit to assess a traditional business (like Apple), a more important soft skill to possess is adaptability.

Bear Studios has formed several key strategic partnerships with WashU and St. Louis-area organizations, with a focus on organizations that share a similar mission and that have a strong sense of community.

Being able to build a relationship with the client and talk through ideas, refine others, and produce a finished product they were excited about, was incredibly rewarding.  Seeing the development of skill and interests I'd picked up in the classroom and applying them directly to my extracurricular involvement excites me for future projects with Bear Studios.