When Elisa Gunawardana JMS'28 transferred to Rutgers, she wasn’t just looking for a new school — she was looking for a new sense of direction.

“I wanted to be closer to home and family,” she said. “But I also realized that making connections in college is so important, and it made sense to go to a school that has such a wide network and is so well-established in the general area where I plan to live and work one day.

Rutgers just felt like the right place — it’s big, it’s well-connected, and it’s where I could see myself growing personally and professionally.”

That move paid off. Now a Journalism and Media Studies major at the School of Communication and Information, Gunawardana said she knows her choice to major in SC&I will pay her back tenfold regardless of what path she takes.

“I chose SC&I because communication and the way information spreads is essentially the foundation of society and all human relations,” she said. “It will give me a skillset that I can apply to almost anything!”

Set to graduate in May 2028, Gunawardana is embracing the uncertainty with optimism and drive. “Whatever I end up doing,” she said, “I know the skills I’m learning at SC&I will always be with me. They’re helping me tell stories that matter — and, in a way, helping me write my own.”

Since she chose her major, Gunawardana has quickly found her footing — and her voice — in a world where storytelling, media, and human connection intersect.

“I’ve always loved reading and writing,” she said, originally planning to major in English before realizing she wanted something more hands-on and that connected creativity with real-world impact. “I wanted to apply my skills in a more contemporary and impactful way,” says Gunawardana, “and Journalism and Media Studies was the perfect way to do that.”

Since embarking on this path, Gunwardana says, “I’ve come to understand the huge impact that media has in our everyday lives and my passion for it has just grown.”

Learning by Doing

Gunawardana’s experience at SC&I has been defined by professors who go beyond the classroom, to mentor, encourage, and invest in their students’ growth and success.

Her Media Ethics and Law class with Assistant Teaching Professor of Journalism and Media Studies David Love has been a standout. “Professor Love is also so knowledgeable and helpful. He went to law school but always had a passion for journalism, which are both fields I’m very interested in, so I’ve really taken the opportunity to pick his brain,” she said. “He is always so supportive — he forwards me internship opportunities whenever he sees something I might be interested in!”

In Writing for Media taught by Lecturer Henry (Hank) Kalet, Gunawardana’s growth as a writer has been fast and evident. In describing Kalet’s “very experiential” class, she mentions, “As our final assignment, we recently went on a field trip to a local church to interview a pastor about immigration for a news story. I’m really grateful for professors who put in the extra work and effort to organize real-life experiences like that for us outside of the classroom.”

Putting Her Skills into Action

When she’s not in class, Gunawardana is already putting her media training to work. As an opinion columnist for The Daily Targum, she’s been refining her voice and learning the art of publishing. “This position has taught me so much about the pitching, writing and publishing process,” she said, “and has allowed me to publish a lot of my own work.”

She’s also the Supporting Editor for the Eagleton Political Journal, a non-partisan, academic-based student journal dedicated to political research and analysis. “I am really excited to be getting involved in this and to be on the editing side of the process,” she said.

Her curiosity extends beyond campus too. This fall, Gunawardana worked as a Communications Intern for a New Jersey General Assembly campaign, writing newsletters and press releases for the campaign. “It was a really fulfilling and valuable experience!” she said.

On top of that, she’s active in the Todd Hunt Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America and the Pre-Law Society, both of which have helped her explore different career directions.

Since embarking on this path, Gunwardana says, “I’ve come to understand the huge impact that media has in our everyday lives and my passion for it has just grown.”

Saying Yes — and Knowing When to Say No

For Gunawardana, one of the biggest lessons she’s learned at Rutgers isn’t just academic — it’s personal.

“I’ve been told to say yes to everything, but also to take care of yourself,” she said. “One of my biggest challenges has been balancing being a yes-person with setting personal boundaries, especially at Rutgers.”

She describes Rutgers as a huge school with so many opportunities going on every second of every day, whether it’s events, clubs, office hours, panels, or sports, it can be amazing, but it also can be overwhelming.

“It can be so valuable to take advantage of all those things, but going to everything just isn’t realistic,” she says. Gunwardana highlights how narrowing down what really matters to her helps with really getting something out of her activities and passions to the fullest. “Be a yes person, but also know when to say no!”

Looking Ahead

Though her exact career path is still unfolding, Gunawardana is confident it’ll be rooted in qualities she admires — communication, empathy, and impact. She’s considering journalism, law, or even counseling.

“The core of all my career aspirations,” she says, “is something where I can use my skills of communicating and writing to make a positive impact in people’s lives.” In Gunawardana’s future, whether that be writing a story that informs them, advocating for them in court, or talking to them one-on-one, SC&I is helping her foster her potential.

Set to graduate in May 2028, Gunawardana is embracing the uncertainty with optimism and drive. “Whatever I end up doing,” she said, “I know the skills I’m learning at SC&I will always be with me. They’re helping me tell stories that matter — and, in a way, helping me write my own.”

Learn more about the Journalism and Media Studies major at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information on the website.