​Brittney Cox

Majors: Graphic design, Asian studies

Minors: Art, Japanese

Activities: Web Guild, Advertising Developers (ADS)

Post-grad plans: I would like to travel some more and get a job in the graphic design or web design industry either in the Quad-Cities area or in the Rockford area. If not that, I would like to pursue my Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate and go to Japan to teach.

Why did you choose Augustana?

I chose to attend Augustana because of the very close-knit community between the professors/faculty and the students. I enjoy being able to joke and travel with the people that are teaching me. The stories that they tell when we are just sitting there are incredible. The second I stepped on campus everyone was so kind to me.

Are you where you thought you'd be four years ago?

I am kind of where I thought I would be. I did not expect to be doing or learning the amount of web coding and marketing. I am really enjoying it, too. I thought I would just be doing art for fun and then mostly only doing Asian studies stuff. I also did not expect to have the number of close friends that I have made.

Who helped you get to where you are now?

Several people helped me get to where I am right now. Megan Quinn helped me open up more and be more involved on campus in different ways. I love her for it. Mari Nagase helped me stick to my guns and showed me I could do something even if it was really hard, and she is still helping me in any way she can. Douglas Tschopp has given me a place to grow and the opportunity to learn anything I want to learn. He has given me a place to go to that is like a family environment. I appreciate everything that these people have done for me and continue to do for me.

A peak experience?

My peak experience was probably when I went on Asian term. It opened up my mind to so many new experiences and types of people. I learned new things from a different culture, and I learned to look at everything in a different way. Being able to go out by myself and talk to people from a different culture just changes you. If not that, then just recently when I was able to go watch our Ads group present and place third in our district.

What did you learn about yourself in these past four years that surprised you?

I learned that I am much more adept at working with different people and talking to them. When I was younger, I was always told that I was very good at talking to different people. Now as I work with clients, fellow students, professors, incoming students as well as strangers, I find I am comfortable and can make them comfortable. Never did I think that I would be comfortable speaking and teaching people in the way I am now.

How did you use your Augie Choice?

I used my Augie Choice to go on the East Asia term.

What will you miss the most?

I think I will miss the freedom of being able to choose what I would like to learn and then dedicating myself to that for an entire term without having all the oncoming distractions of adulthood.

Advice for the Class of 2019?

Take time and find out where you are the most comfortable. If you don’t like a club or activity, then quit, even if you have been doing it for a long time. There is a club or group on campus that you will look forward to and want to be there all the time. Your extra-curriculars are yours, and you should like them. Don’t end up doing nothing because you haven’t found your thing yet. It’s never too late — even spring term of your senior year.