Leif Blake
Web Programming and Design
Video Production Intern at The Walt Disney Company
Describe your potential job duties
As part of this role, I will assist with on-location camera and lighting set up for video shoots in Disney theme parks and resorts. I will also be preparing a wide variety of digital media for internal websites, mobile apps, digital signage, and web-based sales tools.
In what ways did the Polytechnic and/or Purdue help make you uniquely qualified for your new job?
Purdue and the Polytechnic department have prepared me for this role in several aspects- whether it be learning web development, UX design, or data visualization techniques in class, or mastering my craft editing MV’s for VariAsian (a K-POP dance club on campus) in Adobe After Effects, Purdue and the Polytechnic department have given me numerous opportunities to hone my technical skills.
How has the college or someone in the college helped you achieve your goals?
As a low income and first-generation student, my personal life was frequently entangled with my academic life. Balancing a full time schedule, two part time jobs, club responsibilities, and taking care of my elderly grandparents who raised me was no easy task. Because of these circumstances, I needed to occasionally miss class or turn in an assignment past the deadline. However, after explaining this to my professors in the Polytechnic, each one treated me with kindness and respect. All of my professors have been extremely understanding and accepting of my circumstances, which has allowed me to work towards graduation and a postgraduate career.
What specific classes helped prepare you for your new job?
The courses that have helped me the most for my new job are CGT 118 (Fundamentals of Imaging Technology), CGT 215 (Object Oriented Programming), CGT 353 (Principles of Interactive and Dynamic Media), and CGT 377 (Scientific Visualization)
If you had a favorite class, project, experience, or professor, what/who was it, and why?
My favorite class by far has been CGT 118- Fundamentals of Imaging Technology. This class was taught by Esteban Garcia, who was such a lively and interactive professor. I enjoyed this class a lot because of how broad it was- Imaging technology encapsulates lots of different fields within computer graphics, so having the freedom to experiment with different artistic mediums (Javascript, Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop/After Effects, etc) was an awesome experience. My favorite project was our final project, where I mixed together 3D modeling, graphic design, and animation techniques to create a short animated video. Since my major is Web Programming and Design, I might not have had a chance to experiment with different computer graphics mediums if it weren’t for this class.
Purdue Polytechnic provided me with numerous opportunities to hone my technical skills, from web development to video editing. My experiences in class and as an editor for the K-Pop club on campus (VariAsian) prepared me for my role. Professors like Esteban Garcia were also incredibly supportive, helping me balance my academic and personal responsibilities."