What does it mean to be a student of Communication and Media Studies?
As a Communication and Media Studies major with a Media Studies concentration, I have learned various skills, lessons, and knowledge that I will take with me into my future. I’ve learned how to present myself during public speaking, both verbally and physically, to enhance my communication. My writing skills have grown and developed, allowing me to write for multiple audiences and purposes. Finding the balance of critically thinking while also being open-minded has been the most insightful lesson I’ve learned from my major. Critical thinking is essential for developing ideas while being flexible and open-minded allows ideas to grow and flourish. My knowledge from learning both sides of the major, media and communication, has allowed me to become well-rounded as a student. I’ve learned various theories of mass communication while also learning how to target a specific audience on social media. Both sides of this major have given me tools to enhance my ability to communicate. I have engaged with several scholarly perspectives over my time here at St. Norbert. One of my courses on media effects allowed me the opportunity to do academic research on parasocial relationships in new media.
My learning has transformed my ability to collaborate and has challenged me to think on a deeper level when it comes to new media. In terms of professionally, the courses I’ve taken for my major prepared me for my internship as a Communication Web and Social Media Associate at St. Norbert College. After I graduate in May 2022, I am interested in pursuing the field of digital marketing. My internship has given me insight into my field of interest by providing me with various projects to work on while also letting me shadow other fields in the Office of Communications. In addition to my internship, I have written for the St. Norbert Times Newspaper as an Opinion Columnist throughout my time here. My writing has grown as an Opinion Columnist because of the skills I’ve learned throughout my courses. I have learned to be able to analyze and use theories about media to form my opinion in my articles. In addition, I can now target an audience through my writing which helped push my articles to the next level. I have been able to lean back on the skills I’ve learned from being a Communication and Media Studies major to excel at St. Norbert College. I plan to continue to use these tools to help me navigate my professional life.
