From Lens to Soundboard

When Gianna Perna, a media production student at Northampton Community College (NCC), first started college, she had her sights set on psychology. Always an empathetic person, she wanted to help others.  She soon realized, though, that dealing with the struggles others face might be too overwhelming. That’s when she turned to her other passion—media production. 

Perna’s interest in film and video editing began at a young age. She would shoot videos on her phone and teach herself how to edit using the Clips app. It started with simple edits and fun effects, but as her skills grew, she moved on to iMovie. In high school, she took an editing class that solidified her love for audio and video production.   

^{Gianna (far left) with her family}

Originally, Perna began her college journey at DeSales University in the fall of 2022, but she struggled—both mentally and physically. ADHD made focusing in class a constant challenge. She described the experience as “feeling like I’m running until completely exhausted, only to have someone keep yelling to keep going.” On top of that, she has an eye condition called Nystagmus, which affects her vision. Because of this, daily activities began to feel intimidating. These challenges made her time at DeSales difficult, leading to a gap semester before transferring to NCC.  

“When it comes to having disabilities like that, people think I’m stupid and can’t do things,” says Perna. “Teachers would come down on me and weren’t as helpful as they could be throughout my life. So, I always felt like I had to prove myself in school, thus my perfectionism started, which gave me a lot of anxiety. I felt sick over it.”   

Coming to NCC was one of the best decisions she made, Perna feels: “The media production program is exceptional, and the hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment has helped me grow as an artist.”    

She also says that having a support system that understands her needs—without making her feel any less capable—has been invaluable. The accommodations provided have made a significant difference in her academic performance.  

Perna finally feels like she belongs. She joined the Art Club and Tabletop Gaming Club, both of which helped her meet creative-minded people and make new friends. 

Perna had the opportunity to complete a job shadow with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) early this year and “it felt like one big family.” She would love to intern or work for a media company, especially one like PBS, which shaped her childhood. She is also considering the Disney College Program, which would be an amazing opportunity to gain independence and experience in the media industry. Ultimately, her dream job is editing audio and video. 

Perna wants to explore the world, and if that means moving to a big city to chase her dreams, she’s ready for it. Whether behind the camera or working on post-production, she knows that media production is where she is meant to be.