What Communication Means to Me
Looking back on my education at St. Norbert College, and considering the degree in which I chose to pursue, I find that I was able to help identify a new part of who I am and what I want to be able to do in this world. Being a student of Communication and Media Studies, I had the opportunity to learn about one of the most basic functions of our society: communication. This may seem obvious and redundant that a communication major learned about communication, but our world would simply not work without having the skills to communicate with others. Communication is such a broad term that seems quite simplistic to define, but by pursuing my education, I have come to learn and appreciate all of the different facets that our communication can endure. Whether it be personal relationships, running a business, using technology, purchasing your groceries, going to an interview, or even answering a survey over the phone, we are constantly surrounded by and engaging in interactions with other people. Sometimes we take for granted how easy it seems to communicate, when in reality there are so many layers to what people may do, how they do it, or why they might do it. By being a student of this field, I have grown to love the concept of communication. I have seen how it is so crucial to our understanding of ourselves and those around us. Without communication, we would not be able to successfully work together towards a common goal.
Throughout my four years, this scholarship has allowed me to enhance both my personal and professional lifestyle. On one hand, some of my courses have taught me how to deal with personal relationships through both good and bad times. They have provided me with knowledge about how to respond to tough situations and how to generate responses, verbal or nonverbal, in order to cultivate a more positive outcome. These tools have helped myself, and those in my life, build stronger and more intimate relationships. On the other hand, many other courses have given me the opportunity to construct a more professional identity as well. I have grown in my abilities to speak publicly and confidently about a given topic and be able to seek beneficial relationships with employers and coworkers.
Most importantly, my course load at St. Norbert College opened my eyes to all of the intersections that have significant roles into creating positive communication. Communication with others does not always have to be face to face. It includes a large realm of opportunities to connect with other people such as through technology and social media, using nonverbal facial expressions or actions, watching television and films, or publicly speaking. Not only has being a communication student allowed me to learn how we communicate messages to other people, but it has also helped me explain how communication falls all around us. Because of the variety of ways we can communicate, especially in such a largely digital world, we are constantly consuming messages. Learning about communication does not simply mean how we talk to one another, but it has also involved learning about the effects that media and its messages have on us as audience members and how we can cope with these effects. By understanding how communication can affect myself and others, I am better suited to use a range of communication methods in order to positively impact those around me. Furthermore, through all of these modes of communication, comes interacting with all different types of people. We are surrounded by a variety of cultures, religions, genders, races, etc.. It is important to consider that we may have to communicate one way with someone while communicating a completely different way with someone else. My work throughout my education has allowed me to recognize how essential it is to understand that each individual is unique, and that communication may need to be handled differently among different people.
Among working towards the completion of my degree, I also specialized in Media Studies as my chosen concentration. With this specialization, I generally worked with analyzing research and theories from a social scientific perspective. I was able to build an understanding of the role media plays in society along with the effects it has on ourselves and our relationships. In addition, I have learned different ways to explain why media communicates certain messages, and how these messages have the ability to perpetuate, reinforce, influence, or deviate from the status quo; thus, creating a more well-rounded comprehension of the importance of media. Similarly, this concentration has provided me with the acceptance that technology is both a beneficial resource, and a harmful weapon. My coursework has given me the opportunity to examine and understand the complexities of media and technology on human thoughts, behaviors, and actions. With the ability to recognize how media can create both positive and negative environments, I am able to work towards using media in a more valuable way for others. By learning more about technology and how media has such a strong presence in our daily lives, my Media Studies education has given me the desire to be able to use media in a more positive way and help give it a more favorable view in the public eye.
When considering post-graduation, ultimately, I would really like to be a part of an organization that is making a difference in our world. Whether it be helping a marginalized group of people, supporting those in need, or helping to spread positive awareness and influence about particular topics, I hope to be a part of something that matters to making our world a better place. As far as specific roles within a particular organization, I have a range of interests that I would be willing and wishing to pursue. Anything from event planning and coordination to also being able to incorporate my Graphic Design minor through social media marketing or management. In addition, I would also like to work within communication departments in order to help manage relationships between the internal organization and those who we are providing services and help. Overall, I think many of these roles would allow me to build connections with a population that is in need or help to communicate important messages about real problems in order to seek solutions and support from those who can provide.
Aside from my education, I have had the opportunity to learn a little more about these possible future roles through different internship positions. By pursuing these roles as a student, I was able to take what I learned in the classroom and apply that knowledge to real life situations. I had the opportunity to interact with both coworkers and clients on a daily basis in order to enhance both verbal and nonverbal communication. I had to assess the different possibilities of how I could communicate with each individual, and what was appropriate for a given scenario. In addition, when problems arose, I was able to use tools learned from my coursework to better understand myself and the other people involved. Furthermore, I was entrusted with creating work that would be used in both print and media promotions for the organizations that I worked for. I was able to further develop my media skills in a setting where I did not only learn, but also had the opportunity to implement my understanding. By having this hands-on experience, I was able to better flourish as a young professional and cultivate a stronger appreciation for how my education has prepared me for following my dreams and goals for the future.
