The days leading up to the USC program brought not only an impatient temperament but also a seemingly non-ephemeral feeling I could not properly name. I would pass the campus often — usually on my commute to various events — and ponder what my future could hold at Annenberg. On my first day, I marveled at all of the foliage and architecture. Some design elements were simple in nature; however, every detail reminded me that my next few weeks would be spent in a college where I would gain the opportunity to analyze those prominent attributes very often. However, due to the amount of time I spent walking around gazing at the university’s features, I ended up lost and barely made it on time on my first day.
My initial reaction to the room where I would frequent was filled with hopefulness. Despite the setup not being as grand as the outside, it held technical aspects that differentiated the class from anywhere else on campus. Communications 101 first immersed everyone into a world of media literacy skills and the implications that media could hold. Before the class began, I read Zuckerman’s ‘New Media New Civics?’ where the term participatory civics is discussed, as well as the contemporary fears concerning an uprising of crisis with civic materials as they continue to change alongside the digital world. Before delving into his topic, he first recognizes and notes the incoming transformations with civic causes. He states, ” I believe we’re seeing new forms of civic engagement online and I want to understand them while recognizing their (sometimes crippling) shortcomings: a tendency to privilege attention over efficacy, disconnects between what’s easy to accomplish and how change unfolds in the world.” Zuckerman’s interest and unbiased opinion on the new ways of the world instilled a sense of relief in me. He does not ignore the consequences of future civil causes, yet he also does not shame new shifts in society. The reading taught me about the many ways individuals interact with global impacts and that my voice does not have to be silenced–it can be utilized in multifaceted ways.
Although our communications class lasts for only around 60 minutes, I gained the necessary tools and conversations to push me forward in my journey with civic engagement. Additionally, I was informed of the depths of communication and how any conversation can be picked apart, even the simplest of interactions. In just my first day, I connected ideas, interacted with others, and figured out the emotion I could not yet name: curiosity. Even though it is a basic interpretation of how I felt, it showcases how passionate I felt regarding what could come from the program. In the end, I felt satisfied with how much I learned and what more I would gain as the week came to a close.
Communicating Change 