Julia Lee didn’t plan on becoming an associate producer at BYUtv.
When she first came to Brigham Young University from her hometown in Alberta, Canada, she began her undergraduate studies as an exercise science major. After switching majors several times, she graduated with a degree in family consumer science education and taught high school for a year.
During her time at BYU, Lee joined a sketch comedy group called Divine Comedy, an experience that introduced her to storytelling and performance.
“It was from there that my love for storytelling and writing and creating just really blossomed, and because I was so far into my undergrad, I was a little scared to pivot at that point,” Lee said.
After graduating, Lee faced a time-sensitive decision. As a Canadian citizen on an OPT Visa, her time in the United States was limited. She soon had to choose between returning to Canada to continue teaching or returning to BYU to pursue a master’s degree.
“I came to the point where I realized I could keep teaching or you know, take the leap and go back to school and give this creative thing I fell in love with in my undergrad a second shot,” Lee said.
With little formal experience in communications, Lee applied to the communications master’s program at BYU and was accepted.
“I did a lot of praying, a lot of self-reflection, and decided to take the leap and give myself permission to fail if need be,” Lee said.
During the first year of her master’s program, Lee said she often felt uncertain about what the future would hold. While she enjoyed studying media and storytelling, she wasn’t sure how the degree would translate into a career or whether she had made the right decision in returning to school.
“I spent that whole first year kind of panicking a little bit, like, okay, I’m one year into my master’s program, I have one year left, I don’t know if this is a waste or if this is going to benefit me in any way,” Lee said.
With only one week left in her first year of the program, Lee’s brother sent her a picture of a flier with the words, “Do you want to write TV?” advertising a student writing position at BYUtv. The moment was pivotal to Lee’s career.
Lee applied for the position and spent the following year working in the student writers’ room while completing her master’s program. As graduation approached, she again felt uncertainty about what would come next and leaned on the Lord for guidance.
“It really just feels like he knows where I need to be and trusts that as long as I’m doing my part, he will keep me on the path that he has in store for me,” Lee said.
Soon after, an associate producer position opened at BYUtv. Lee applied and was offered the job.
“The dream for my future is to develop my own TV show, and I’d love for that to be at BYUtv. I love the mission of BYUtv in telling wholesome and uplifting human stories,” Lee said.
For Lee, the path forward hasn’t been about having all the answers, but about giving herself permission to fail and trusting Heavenly Father has a plan for her.