It’s already been four months and my first semester at Centennial College is over. It’s hard to believe that it’s over considering how much we had to do.
Our courses were:
- Project Management
- Introduction to Corporate Communications
- Public Relations Writing 1: Writing to Inform
- Canadian Business Practices
- Event Management
- Media Relations
- Copy Editing
These courses were interesting and engaging and gave us the chance to learn a lot of the basic skills that we need to go forward into second semester and then into the field of communications.
On top of writing, editing, planning and presenting, we also did a lot of strategic thinking, participated in intelligent and creative discussions, and took part in a few role-playing activities (including a mock news conference and making mock agency pitches to a fake client).
I learned a lot this semester but there are two things that really stand out:
We can do anything
I realized that as a group of students, we really do have the skills, drive and talent to succeed. I say this because for our Event Management course, we were split into groups and had to put on events in the community with a budget of $0. With a lot of hard work, initiative, creativity and support for each other, we put on three really successful events. Two of which raised more than $1,000 for charity (combined) and one that brought down the house at a retirement centre. It’s hard not to be proud of my peers and the work we’ve done.
This is for me
I love that communications is creative and involves writing, editing, designing and planning. However, before starting this program, I had no idea how much strategic thinking and problem solving communicators do. That aspect is something I love and it makes me realize, even more, that my decision to pursue the field of communications was a good one.
What’s next?
I have this week off between semesters and I plan to spend it exploring my goals for the next few months. I want to think about who I’d like to do a client project with and where I may want to do an internship. Of course, I’ll also spent a lot of my time resting before the next set of courses start.
Photo Credit: BookMama – Creative Commons Licence (BY-NC-ND)
May 4th, 2009 on 6:54 pm
Congrats on finishing first semester!
I only just finished it 4+ months ago and I’ll always appreciate the things learned in that semester specifically.
The great thing about the program is it teaches you a lot of different things in such a short period of time. It moves so quickly too, so you may not get how important it is until you’re separated from it.
It’s good to hear you know this is where you want to be. I had a vague idea myself coming into the program, and at about the halfway point I just knew; it’s a great feeling.
Good luck for next semester!
Sean
May 4th, 2009 on 9:23 pm
Thanks Sean!
It’s great to hear what you guys think and feel about the program, especially now that you are all finished with coursework and onto your internships.
If you’re presenting tomorrow at the mid-placement seminar, I’ll see you there! A few of us from the January class will be there to hear about the great work that you’re all doing