Name: Drew Salazar
Hometown: Franklin, Tennessee
Campus involvement: VGDev, CM Ambassadors, Greek Life (briefly), GT Tour Guides
In fifty words or less, describe yourself.
I’m an explorer by heart. As a child I was completely enveloped by the worlds and cultures I discovered in media. Now, to create my own wondrous worlds to share with others, I travel, experiencing as many new cultures as possible. More than anything, I love language, culture, and people.
What is the coolest thing you have done in your studies as a CM major?
I’m actually writing this in Malmo, Sweden. Since coming here, I’ve learned to operate on the metric system, studied design in games, and learned more than I ever imagined I would about European cultures, language, history, and even politics. My new best friends are from Austria, Malta, Italy, Australia, and Indonesia and we never have shortages of things to talk about. Over the summer, I had a similar, life-changing experience in Kyushu, Japan, which is the whole reason why I came here.
What are your professional goals?
I hope to one day take my experiences and use them as references to make video games that, not only entertain, but also teach people about the world — its different languages, environments, and cultures that influence the way its denizens view and think about the world and each other.
In one sentence, explain why students should choose the CM major.
As a CM major, you learn both the technical and creative skills to create media that influences people in ways you never considered.