The COVID-19 pandemic changed the world and Scarlette Magazine was no different. These past few years Scarlette Magazine was able to rise through its challenges and remerge stronger than it’s ever been before, reaching over 20,000 readers this semester and releasing our first ever printed issue of the magazine, none of which would have been possible without this year’s graduating seniors. As we send off our seniors into the world, we would like to thank them for all their hard work and wish them well in their future endeavors.

Our graduating seniors are Lena Wu, our Creative Director, President & Co-Editor-In-Chief, Archita Rout, Co-Editor-In-Chief and Co-President, LeVana Wu, Vice President & Assistant Editor-In-Chief and Hannah Mayle, the Director of Finance.

As our seniors enter the next chapter in their lives, we asked each of them to reflect on their time as a member of the Scarlette Magazine and share some of their experiences.

Lena Wu

During my time as a Scarlette member, I was honored to be able to be a part of the Executive Board. I was the Co- president, Creative Director & Co-Editor-In-Chief of Scarlette Magazine this year. My major was in communications with a focus in engagement & analysis with a minor in fashion & retail studies.

“It was nice to be in an environment where I was with people that supported each other and wanted to create something that showcased such amazing creativity.”

 I initially joined Scarlette because of my love for fashion and all the amazing opportunities Scarlette offered. Everyone in the organization was very welcoming and open to trying out new ideas for photoshoots & how to build Scarlette back up during the pandemic. I loved working alongside all the members of Scarlette and it was nice to be in an environment where I was with people that supported each other and wanted to create something that showcased such amazing creativity. It was hard work but holding the printed magazine in my hands and celebrating it with everyone that worked so hard on the magazine was the best feeling in the world for me. 

My favorite memory from being a part of Scarlette was leading our general meetings each week and slowly seeing our ideas turn into a photoshoot and then into a spread in the Magazine. I also loved having personal conversations with everyone within the organization. I enjoyed getting to know everyone a little bit more with each conversation. I loved all of our photoshoots this semester, picking just one is just too hard for me. Everyone who worked on each concept worked very hard and were passionate about their photoshoots. Just witnessing that was an amazing experience.

I know the skills I’ve learned while being a member of Scarlette will follow me into whatever career I will pursue post-graduation. I’ve learned how to run an organization of 40+ general members, photoshoots, social and fundraising events and many more life skills that are needed in both a work environment and in everyday life. I’m really grateful for all the lessons I’ve learned while being the President of a magazine and cannot wait to be able to use those skills very soon as I enter the Fashion Industry this summer. 

My advice to the next generation of Scarlette members is to be open to all ideas even if it may not exactly be what you envisioned. The Initial ideas for photoshoots tend to evolve quite a bit throughout the semester, and most times the changes that occur to the concepts lead to amazing outcomes. Another piece of advice I have is to not be afraid of sharing your ideas or opinions. The best concepts and photoshoots all had great communication where everyone’s ideas were openly discussed, and everyone had a voice.  As an organization we welcome everyone from all majors to join, and we love to bring new ideas and new students into our organization. I wish Scarlette Magazine and all of its members the best and will always support the magazine in its future endeavors. I cannot wait to see what its members will create and showcase to its readers in the future!

Archita Rout

“My favorite part of Scarlette was getting to meet so many creative people who I would not normally meet within my major.” 

I am a microbiology major with a minor in Arabic and epidemiology. This year I was the Co-President and Co-Editor-in-Chief. I joined Scarlette to continue my interests in fashion photography as well as meet other individuals with similar interests in this industry. 

My favorite part of Scarlette was getting to meet so many creative people who I would not normally meet within my major. It was so fun getting to hear their ideas and passions, and also having them become close friends I will always love! Through Scarlette speaker workshops held over the semester, I learned a lot about networking and making connections and although I will not be joining the fashion industry and rather continuing to grad school, I know this will come in handy in any professional situation. 

My favorite photoshoot has to be the Barbie shoot because it was so cool to watch everyone put together all the different Barbie “characters”. The shoot was so much fun, and I loved the way the pictures came out.

My advice to the future members of Scarlette Magazine is to remember to have fun and to push your creative limits – try out new things because you’ll surprise yourself with all the things you’re capable of doing. 

LeVana Wu

“We pride ourselves on the fact that anyone from any major or background is welcome to join.” 

My major is in communications with a focus on engagement & analysis. This year I was the Vice President & Assistant Editor-In-Chief.   I joined Scarlette because I love fashion and enjoyed putting together photoshoots. I also liked the fact that Scarlette is a 100% student-run organization. We pride ourselves on the fact that anyone from any major or background is welcome to join.

I love the creative and open-minded collaboration of putting together a fashion magazine. Scarlette allowed me to gain hands-on experience that classrooms don’t provide. I loved being a part of all of the photoshoots, but my favorite by far is probably our Barbie shoot that we did for the fall 2022 magazine issue. 

The advice I have for the future Scarlette members is that the more energy you put into Scarlette the more you’ll get out. It’s hard work but seeing everyone’s collective work being put together in the printed version and reaching the goals you set for yourself, it’s an amazing feeling when you look back and see all you have accomplished. Another tip I’ll give is to keep an open mind and communicate your ideas, we want to hear them!

Hannah Mayle

I am a marketing major with a fashion & retail studies minor. I’ve been a part of Scarlette for the last two years, therefore, I had quite a few roles within the organization. During my time in Scarlette, I have been the Director of the Blog, President, and most recently the Financial Director.

I first heard about Scarlette Magazine from a friend of mine that helped introduce me to the organization during my freshman year and I joined because I loved working on photoshoots, and I loved the process of planning it. I also loved how creative and open the club was. 

My favorite part about being a member of Scarlette was getting to meet so many creative, hardworking, and talented people. I feel like I have grown so much from being a part of Scarlette and the people in the club. 

“Some advice that I have for future Scarlette members is to have fun and continue to think outside of the box, that’s what makes Scarlette so amazing.” 

Being on the Scarlette Executive Board helped me learn how to be a leader and taught me what sort of leader I would like to be. I was able to work as part of a group and figure out my own strengths and weaknesses along the way. 

My favorite shoot that I worked on from Scarlette would have to be Nude shoot by Philip Bradshaw in 2020, it was so fun to be in a studio and try something new.

Some advice that I have for future Scarlette members is to have fun and continue to think outside of the box, that’s what makes Scarlette so amazing.

Scarlette Class of ’23

As we wrapped up the 2022-2023 academic year and bid a farewell to our seniors, Scarlette will always remember our alumni for their accomplishments & contribution, and we look forward to continuing their legacy in the upcoming 2023-2024 School year.

Best of luck to our graduating seniors!