SCAD alumna Sheridan Markham advises students to reach for every opportunity
Written by Kaitlynne Rainne, Photo courtesy of Sheridan Markham
“It’s funny how many people have reached out to talk to me about my SCAD experience because I was only there for a year. But it is a memory I won’t forget,” said Sheridan Markham.
After completing her undergraduate at Florida State University, Markham was a graduate interior design student at SCAD and graduated in May 2020. For her, the transition of moving somewhere new with no pre-established network was scary. “While I was in SCAD, I had to really branch out of my major to find my friend group and it took a while,” Markham said. “It was strange but I think having a bit of patience and understanding with myself helped. Starting out won’t be perfect, you just have to put yourself out there.”
There was a recurring theme as Markham recounted her SCAD journey: that students across SCAD would benefit from hearing from an alumna as they begin to wrap up this quarter in preparation for spring. “At SCAD, there are so many opportunities. Great opportunities. Opportunities that won’t simply come to you. You have to be the one to take them. You have to reach out and fight to achieve it,” Markham said.
Markham recounted her experience getting into a SCADpro class that was partnering with Hermes. She said she had to fight to get it because her schedule didn’t allow it. Despite the challenges, she said she knew it would be a groundbreaking opportunity and went after it. It proved to be a memorable moment in her SCAD journey.
However, even with the go, go, go of chasing opportunities, Markham said that it should not be the whole journey. She explained that students should make sure they are doing what they want before pressuring themselves and rushing into things.
Despite the prestige that is often associated with SCAD, at the end of the day, your best is your best and you should be proud of that. In addition, Markham pointed out the importance of getting rest and taking time for yourself. Obviously, the need to work hard is paramount but so is the need to replenish your body.
“One day at a time. One breath at a time. One second a time. You’ll get there,” Markham said. She followed that motto while at SCAD, and now in her post-grad life, a life which is a whole different ballgame.
“Remember that the pandemic will still be a thing when you graduate. That’s the first thing. Secondly, I just want you to know, you might experience a facet of culture shock. You don’t have to do all-nighters anymore. You can remember more often that you are a human. You are in the real world,” Markham said.
Her journey post-grad is not where she thought she would be, but she said she is content. From June to September, Markham was living at home, but soon after got a job at an architecture firm in Napels, Fla. and secured a position as a part-time professor at Florida State. On top of that, she also does some freelance work. She said she recognizes her busy schedule, but welcomes it.
Markham acknowledges how demotivating living in a world where the pandemic has made the job search much harder can be, which is why she urges graduates to dip their toes in everything and to stay busy in a positive way. “Yes, go after every opportunity, but remember times are hard right now,” Markham said. “Despite that, I want you to remember that you are talented. You are doing your best so don’t blame yourself for a closed door or two. The system is just really bad now. At the end of the day, you graduated, and you are great at what you do.”
