Realizing that our next week at AYA will be our last is unimaginable. I am so grateful for this opportunity and don’t want the learning to end. From participating in discussions to learning how to write news scripts, I have learned many skills I can use in my academic future. Not only have I learned academic lessons but also life lessons. Whether it’s learning how to navigate a place that is completely unknown to me (the campus of USC) or learning how to put myself out there and meet new people.
In the COMMS 101 class, the discussions on diversity and inclusivity in media were particularly interesting to me. The idea that there is so much that goes into diversity in media has never dawned upon me until now. The concepts of negative and positive representation. The concept of accurate representation all factors into what is a “good” manner of diversity in media. Additionally discussing these topics and how we are learning about them today is strong because of the people that have aired their disappointments about poor representations in social media. These learnings have motivated and inspired me. They taught me that whenever I see an issue in today’s world, to recognize the power of social media and how impactful it can be in civics.
In the JOUR 101 class exploring the world of News captivated me. I had the privilege to be an anchor for this week’s broadcast. I never realized the amount of pressure anchors have to perform well, especially in such a fast-paced environment of what is a newsroom. The most nerve-racking element for me was I was anchoring alone. Therefore, everyone was watching me. However, it’s an understatement to say that I learned a tremendous amount that day. The key lesson I learned that day was that attention to detail is most important. For instance, while I was anchoring I was swiveling in my chair and I hadn’t even noticed I was. It wasn’t until the stage director had pointed it out to me. A great amount of minuscule components factor into what makes a broadcast look professional, such as placement of the mic, posture, hand placement, vocal level, and more. This experience has made me gain an enormous amount of gratitude, appreciation, and recognition of how talented professional news anchors are.
My week ended on a high note with having the opportunity to be able to listen and gain wisdom from AYA alumni guest speakers. Their insight on how they used the skills from AYA in their futures made me much more confident about what do to in my upcoming years. The highlight of the talk for me was the speaker emphasizing that it is okay if you don’t get into your dream school. The speakers explained how it’s crucial to remember that not getting into the college you want does not define your worth or potential. That one’s journey is filled with unexpected detours that often lead to unique opportunities for growth. Sometimes, it’s in the places we least expect that we discover our passions and meet those who will impact our lives the most. This setback can be a blessing in disguise as it opens doors to new institutions and experiences that can shift one’s idea of what their future looks like for the better. All in all, I have learned that I have to embrace the ups and downs of my journey to gradually find my flow in the bumpy road of life.
Communicating Change 