鶹ý

Students

The Art of Busy

By
Johnni Medina
Posted
March 4, 2025
鶹ý student Sunny Shenkman sports pink hair and a smile.

"Busy is good,鶹ý says Sunny Shenkman 鶹ý25, a Communications and Media Studies major and double minor in graphic design and art. 鶹ýYou鶹ýre locked in, and schoolwork becomes easier when you have so much stuff to do.鶹ý

And Sunny certainly has a lot to do.

Sunny is the president and editor-in-chief of Pace鶹ýs imprint fashion publication , as well as the leader of Fusion鶹ýs graphic design committee. They鶹ýre the director of the , a where students can buy and sell handmade items. They also work as a programming assistant for Pace鶹ýs LGBTQA+ Center and as a journalism intern for Brown Eyez Co. They鶹ýre also working on illustrations for a children鶹ýs book series! And that鶹ýs just outside of the classroom.

I feel like sometimes in New York, you have to do everything.

Sunny鶹ýs set to graduate this spring and during their time at Pace they鶹ýve learned how to find the balance in the busy. 鶹ýThere are things I just won鶹ýt compromise,鶹ý they explain. 鶹ýI have a really big social life and that鶹ýs really important to me. But so is getting nine hours of sleep.鶹ý They also insist upon prioritizing their health. 鶹ýYou hate that people say it over and over but it鶹ýs right: take your vitamins!鶹ý

When it comes to the work you want to do, Sunny says it鶹ýs about knowing what to sacrifice, and what to hold dear. 鶹ýI like keeping some things sacred,鶹ý Sunny explains. 鶹ýIt's just a negotiation. What is the most important and what can I delegate? Learning how to give up stuff a little bit has been really big for me.鶹ý

Sometimes, Pace feels impossible because it seems like everyone has these amazing jobs.

These skills are important for Sunny, especially as they approach graduation and prepare to enter the creative industry, a field that demands adaptability. 鶹ýWhat does being a creative even mean?鶹ý Sunny says. 鶹ýI feel like sometimes in New York, you have to do everything. You have to be a photographer and a designer, a leader, an organizer. All these things. And you have to be good at every single one.鶹ý

Sunny鶹ýs also learned you can鶹ýt just stop at trying to learn everything, you also have to show it off. 鶹ýSometimes, Pace feels impossible because it seems like everyone has these amazing jobs,鶹ý says Sunny. They share how intimidating it can be to see peers sharing their successes and how they鶹ýve learned to tackle that by sharing their own. 鶹ýDon鶹ýt be afraid to be a LinkedIn warrior. One day, I had this switch where I started posting everything I do on LinkedIn because I kept seeing all these amazing things people were doing and wanted to show what I was doing too.鶹ý

I like keeping some things sacred. It's just a negotiation.

Finally, Sunny has learned to embrace support. 鶹ýI really respect Pace鶹ýs administration.鶹ý Sunny explains how Pace staff鶹ýwith special shout outs to Todd Smith-Bergollo, senior associate dean for students and Janice Hilbrink, director of endowed scholarships鶹ýhave shaped their journey in meaningful ways and helped them get to where they are today. 鶹ýThey鶹ýve really come through for me and I won鶹ýt forget that moving forward.鶹ý

Sunny has made the most of their time at Pace鶹ýand they鶹ýre just getting started. They鶹ýve learned to balance their schedule and embrace their successes. As they prepare to graduate, their experiences at Pace have set them up to take on whatever comes next.

But first? Maybe a well-earned nap.

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