I learned what it means to be a student of Communication and Media Studies: you have to be outgoing and step out of your comfort zone. There are various ways for communication to exist in different fields of study. Communicating efficiently and effectively is important as it allows for more meaningful/impactful interactions between people. Learning about communication in depth has impacted me personally and professionally; I strive to be confident and have a positive impact on others. It taught me to begin building and establishing connections with people, especially those that are in the communication field.
Having a concentration in media, I discovered its unending possibilities. With the many theories and models in the field, it explained the vital role communication has in our everyday lives. It helps explain how and why we,as humans, interact with each other, along with the process towards the action. The numerous times of analyzing images, scenes, technology, theories/models and much more has shown me that there are messages within messages. Critically analyzing helped me understand how/why something works or how it enhances the meaning as a whole. It allowed me to process information better and find more significance to that information. Topics learnt throughout my 4 years at SNC were: Interpersonal Communication, Principles Mass Communication, Communication Research Methods, Writing for Media, Nonverbal Communication, Health Communication, Political Communication, Comm Technology Social Change, Media Law and Ethics, Television Criticism, and Mass Communication Theory.
Upon graduation, I am interested in pursuing the sports aspect of the communication field. As of present, I am open to work. I am interested in baseball and football however, I am open to any opportunity within the sports industry.
Outside of the classroom, I have been a part of the Latine Student Union all four years and served as the social media coordinator on the executive board for three of those years. That position assisted me in gaining experience as a social media strategist for advertising and outreach purposes. It allowed me to engage with our followers and collaborated with other social media coordinators in sharing events. In addition, the position helped me build connections and make friends with people that also shared a Latino background. In addition, I also was a part of the STAR program here on campus where I served as a member my freshman year and a mentor for my sophomore and junior year. The mentor role allowed me to act as a leader to incoming freshmen: to give advice and act as a role model for them as they enter their college career. Communicating efficiently and effectively was a crucial part of the role throughout the early move in program STAR provided and team bonding activities planned throughout the days.
Outside of my extracurricular involvements, I also hold two on-campus employment positions at St. Norbert. I am a Communication and Sports Information Assistant where I assist in-game production by video recording events for live streaming broadcasts and recording statistics for the athletic teams and media organizations’ usages. I additionally work at Dale’s Sports Lounge where I provide positive customer service at the front desk and serving. These positions helped me gain experience and further put into practice the different forms of communication I have learned. These employment opportunities allowed me to meet new people and learn about their work/background to build connections for the future.
