In the end, she created a story about a man from a local homeless shelter. But rather than just showing up and shooting footage, she took the time to “forge a strong relationship” with him. “He opened up to me about traumas in his past that moved me,” Cleven adds. “Being able to share in his experiences, and finding ways to visually communicate that story, inspired me to pursue film full-time.” She switched her major to film, because, as she puts it, “I flourish on being able to have experiences that help me feel more connected and integrated in the world.” And, for her, she discovered how film is the “best medium” for her to “impact change and be actively engaged in shaping how others connect to experiences around them.” However, it’s not easy, and she notes how “it takes a lot of work-and a lot of effort,” but she “finds the process and end product exceptionally rewarding.”