Content creator Anna Sitar holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Western Michigan University. She later pivoted to creative media, earning a Master of Fine Arts, making a career shift into lifestyle content creation and bringing her creativity and storytelling skills to a Gen Z and young millennial audience.
How did your college experience shape the direction of your career?
My college experience taught me so much about myself: it taught me balance, it taught me passion, it changed my perspective on strategy and time. I think, in college, we fall into this belief system that the best way to success is dedication rather than exploration.
During college, I was told over and over again to pick a major, pick a club in that major, get a job in that degree, and have friends who are in the same field so you can have study buddies. When in reality, the best decision I ever made was to continue to pursue things that excited me inside and outside my chosen major. I studied mechanical engineering with a focus in bio med. I was also a ZUMBA instructor, a fitness coach, in an acapella group, on the swim team, and a substitute teacher on Fridays when I didn’t have class.
This taught me balance. This taught me how to make time for the things I enjoyed while still pursuing the thing that I came for — an education. I took pictures on campus of different clubs and the football team; I created space for me to still explore hobbies. College is such an incredible and unique time in life to truly find friends and what you enjoy. Don’t let it go to waste by trying to fit yourself into boxes you already belong in.
What challenges did you face while navigating your academic and career transitions?
The greatest challenge I believe was outside noise and trusting the process. After mechanical engineering, I pursued a master’s in film and television production that was focused on writing and directing. I knew deep in my core I was intended for a career with more creativity, but a narrative that I heard constantly from people outside my field was that I wasted my engineering degree. That my four years were thrown away for choosing to follow an education in the arts after.
I strongly disagree with that. Not only did I still get the degree, but I have endless experience, knowledge, problem-solving skills, and talents surrounding my engineering degree that, even if I didn’t learn them in the classroom in order to put to work in the corporate field, I still carry them with me constantly. Engineering taught me life skills that I cherish, and I am a mosaic of all my history, talent, education, and skills that I have accumulated over the years and will continue to.
What’s something college taught you that you didn’t expect to learn?
I think what college taught me the most that I wasn’t expecting was that you can find your future in the most unexpected ways. What sparked my interest in going back to school for an M.F.A. was actually an assignment from the marketing team during my internship where they asked if any interns had experience with video editing in order to assist putting together training videos for the sales reps teams. And I had nearly 10 years of making videos on Adobe Premiere Pro under my belt. Although I was an intern assigned to an R&D team, I was taking any opportunity offered to learn everything I could about the medtech industry, because that’s where I thought I saw my future. The greatest blessing was just discovering more about myself along the way.
What guided your choices when exploring different programs or paths?
I think quality of life was my biggest indicator of success for a program. In engineering, I loved the challenge. In film, I loved the diversity in schedule and responsibility. And now as a content creator, I adore the creativity and freedom. This wasn’t a career I could have chosen in college, but it truly is the perfect blend of both of my degrees. The strategy from engineering married to the art of storytelling from being a filmmaker. I don’t think I could have invented a better career for myself.
What advice would you give to students who feel uncertain about their path?
Trust your intuition and don’t be afraid to try something new and start over. That claim of “throwing away your past” isn’t real. Every experience is teaching you a lesson, no matter what you end up using or not, you are learning what you like. The final goal of college isn’t the most “perfect” path — it’s the most perfect outcome for you. Finding something that brings you joy, makes you feel inspired, and allows you to express yourself and your talents.
