It's that time of year. December is nearly here. Soon the semester will draw to a close, with finals, end of year events and winter break. It's also the time of year where Stephens Life Magazine will be accepting applications for interested students. As the Creative Director of SL, Stephens Life Magazine has fundamentally redefined my time in College. As this semester draws to a close, I encourage all Stephens students to check out an application to join our staff. Here are 12 of the best reasons to get involved with Stephens Life as told by one of our favorites: The Devil Wears Prada.
1. It provides an ideal way to get involved in the Stephens Community
Although the magazine operates within Stephens' School of Design, the SL staff is comprised of students from a wide array of majors, from Fashion Marketing and Management to Psychology. Moreover, your work for the magazine virtually requires that you'll be involved on campus. Whether you're working on an article about the community, putting together a model list for photoshoot or promoting events, Stephens Life is fundamentally relies on student involvement, so the magazine provides an ideal way to build your connections on campus.
2. It allows you to explore your interests and gain experience in print
Our staff is comprised of three teams: Art Direction, who are responsible for photography, styling, art and graphic design; Copy and Research, who write the articles in the publication; and Outreach/PR who maintain our social media presence, help plan events and work to line up advertisers for the publication. However, many of the roles overlap. If you're interested in writing, you can submit an article from any of the teams. If you want to learn more about photo styling, we encourage everyone to sit in and observe photoshoots.
3. Working for an award winning publication is a major resume booster
Earlier this year, Stephens Life was honored with recognition for three national awards from the Associated Collegiate Press and the College Media Association, and we show no signs of slowing down. Working on the staff of an award winning publication is a fantastic addition to any resume.
4. It enables you to join a staff of incredible people
Our staff is made up of a number of people from a variety of different majors, yet we all come together to create an outstanding publication.
5. There’s no feeling like the feeling of seeing your hard work come to life in print
There's something magical about working on something all semester, and seeing ultimately seeing it come together in stunning printed magazine.
6. You can learn from upperclassmen in the Stephens Community![]()
SL has implemented a mentor program, where underclassmen are able to shadow and learn from upperclassmen. This allows new students to pick up a number of skills and better prepare for their upcoming courses.
7. It allows you to channel your creativity into a rewarding project
College can be stressful, however maintaining an outlet for your creativity can help reduce the impact of this stress. Fundamentally, Stephens Life provides a platform for releasing pent up creativity, while ensuring that your voice gets out.
8. It allows you to take on leadership roles
Whether you're interested in ultimately becoming a Managing Editor, Art Director or even Creative Director, there's no shortage of leadership roles.
9. It gives you a chance to network![]()
Beginning this semester, Stephens Life has been working with Columbia Business Times to provide breakout sessions, where we meet with the staff of a professional publication, to ask questions and hone our skills. A number of our staff have found internships with the publication, throughout this partnership.
10. Our group chat is always filled with simultaneously inspiring and hilarious content
Yes Miranda, it's our GroupMe.
We're huge believers in the power of GroupMe. Our group chat is constantly filled with a steady stream of puns, delicious meals, pets, and the other narratives of our adventures in college.
11. It allows your voice to be heard![]()
Stephens Life is read by more than 10,000 people worldwide. Working on Stephens Life provides an opportunity to share your thoughts, ideas, designs and creativity on an massive scale.
12. It provides a tangible souvenir of your time in college![]()
There's nothing like a yearbook for saving memories. Unfortunately, yearbooks are no longer offered by the time you get into college, however, Stephens Life can help to provide a physical account of your memories. There's nothing like looking back at all of your hard work throughout the semester. I know, personally, I love to get my issues signed by staff members so I can look back and remember the team as people graduate and we go our separate ways.
