"Communications? What were you thinking?"

Usually around College Station when I mention my major, Communications, I get a look like “oh, you could not handle anything more challenging?” The truth is that I chose this major on a whim, because I had no clue as to my career path after graduation. Looking back I would have not changed my decision. Communications has offered me so many skills that have prepared me for my future. Through event planning I will be meeting a lot of new people, I will have to know how to be personable and likeable. On the broader scale, I have also learned how to communicate on an intercultural level. As our world is flattened through advancing technology, it is becoming more and more imperative that a prospective employee be able to communicate well with others on a broader spectrum.

Communications has not only prepared me for the working world, but I also feel that it has helped me prepare for my life ahead. I have learned valuable interpersonal and relational skills. A current class that I am taking, Gender & Communication, has made it much easier for me to understand girls and boys and why we act the way we do. This will be helpful in marriage and motherhood.

I feel as though my four years here at A&M University will not have been wasted, rather spent to the fullest. My classes have taught me life skills that will impact both my work and personal future.

"Live It Up"

Looking toward next semester I have many different priorities, goals and anticipations. Being my last semester at Texas A&M University, I have been told by many alumni to “live it up” and I suppose that phrase is up to my interpretation. For me, I believe that “living it up” would involve pouring into my friends’ lives, teaching them as well as learning from them, being there to listen to them, and supporting them. I realize that when the day comes that I am pushed into the workforce my colleagues will not be chosen by me, and they most likely will not be someone I would choose to be friends with, so I need to enjoy that time now.

My priorities for school have also changed drastically in the past year, I used to just try and get by as best as I could, but now I am in classes that truly mean something to me and my future career, now instead of memorizing facts, I am learning significant information. This next semester, in the hype of graduating, I hope that I do not forget the value of my education.

Throughout the past two years I have experienced a lot in my family. Starting with a separation that led to a divorce, my grandfather’s death, and the strain of moving to a new house after spending a lifetime in another. Finally things are looking up. My goal for this year is to spend as much time as I can experiencing and helping to build this new life for my family, as both my parents follow different paths.

I look with great anticipation toward this next semester, and I am planning to “live it up”.

DOES THIS CATCH YOUR ATTENTION?!?!?

In my time in college I have had to complete a variety of different projects. One of my favorites thus far was a project I completed for my Persuasion class last year. In America we are constantly being lured in to advertisements that use enticing jargon and colorful images. For this project in particular the class was told to create a fake non-profit organization that supported a cause that we believed in and create flyers, commercials, and the platform for this organization. The girls in my group and I chose to harp in on drinking and how it affects a person inside and out, and promoting “real beauty”. This project was interesting because not only did I get to endorse a cause I believe in, but I was able to play with the advertising techniques and create slogans and ads that really could catch the publics attention. Now, whether it is watching television or reading a magazine I am much more aware of the ads and realizing the tactics used to draw in the public.

My Last Semester...

Next semester I will be finishing up my time at Texas A&M University. After visiting my counselor in the Communication Department, I found that not only do I have a few extremely difficult and time consuming courses left to take, but I also have a few general electives. This news sparked my interest. Searching the catalog for something interesting and fun to take I came across Photography, listed under ENDS 311. In High School this was my favorite course, and I feel as though it would be almost therapeutic while I endure the last few difficult classes in my college career. This skill of photography is also something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I do not plan on making a career out of it, but I do feel as though it is a wonderful hobby that I will continue to enjoy past college. When I first took photography I used strictly manual camera, having to set the aperture and f-stop before every shot. Now, with the growing technology and innovations I am excited to learn how to use an automatic, and brush up on my skills in the dark room!

Oh the Wonders of Technology...

In a search to find helpful information that would educate me on the growing use of technology in the field of event planning, I came across two extremely important and helpful articles.

First I found an article written by Paul McDougall, he explains the new Microsoft Windows event planning tool. The tool is called Windows live events and it claims to offer innovative design templates for invitations and even web pages where attendees to keep track of the event. This tool is intriguing to me because I am an extremely visual person and this allows me to be creative and have fun.
http://www.informationweek.com/windows/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=202402042

Another article I found focused on a more serious issue when planning events. Technology: The Newest Weapon in Event Planning by Robert Wolf describes the many ways that technology can be involved in securing important events (i.e. political, athletic, and celebrity). Ironically the main technology discussed in this article was developed by Microsoft as well. The E-Sponder is said to provide 'critical information' and 'enhanced situational awareness' during events. I find this extremely important in the field of event planning where security must remain tight in order to ensure the attendees safety.
http://www.respondersafetyonline.com/500/Issue/Article/False/12954/Issue

Meeting Industry Megasite

http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/news/recent.jsp

I was very excited to come across such a helpful website as this. Meeting Industry Megasite is the home for meeting and event planning. Surveying the homepage I noticed a few things that could be very helpful to my future career. The creators update this website daily with new exciting news and topics for this specific industry of event planning. The most helpful device to me would be the ‘forum’ where I would have an opportunity to stay connected with others in my field.

The time for a career is approaching...

As a senior, graduating in August of 2008, I have a lot of anxiety about my future. Once again I will be given a blank slate, and I want to make the most of it. Both of my parents are extremely artistic and use that gift daily in their occupations. I feel the same way, in whatever career I end up choosing, I know every day I want to be stretching my creative side. Planning events has always intrigued me, hopefully this occupation will provide diversity on a day to day basis, allowing me to use my artistic and imaginative gifts. I may have an idealized view of what a career really is, but I do know that I want to wake up every morning excited and in anticipation of the day to come.