Why did I choose Mass Communication:
This was actually my first choice but not my first course. I was forced to take up an Engineering course at first but since it wasn't my choice, I wasn't happy about it. I finished the whole year but I decided to shift and take the course that I really wanted, Mass Communication.
About my college education:
At first, my purpose of taking this course was to pursue Journalism. I was very passionate about writing and I figured that Journalism was for me. As I continued to progress in my course, I started to fall out of love from Journalism and fell in love with Digital Art. This includes; Photography, Film Production and Multimedia. I chose this course with for a reason but I continued to pursue the course for a passion.
I have learned so much from my course. I didn't just learn techniques and theories. I learned that the real world is not a classroom. There is a lot of competition but how you deal with that can make or break you. I learned that in dealing with a lot of competition you have to have an open mind. It's good if you have your own ideas but sometimes those ideas might not be what's needed so it's important that you understand what is needed and be open to other people's ideas. You have to always look at your output with a lot of criticism so that you can continue to push yourself to make something good turn into something great.
The most difficult subject for me was Advertising. We had this project where we are given a client which was a Retreat Center. We had to make a full add campaign. It was difficult concept wise because we had to try many approaches until we got the client's "YES!" It took a lot of sleepless nights of planning, so many days of shooting, editing and putting everything together. I can really say that it was the toughest year of my whole college life, that was my 3rd year. In the end, all that hard work and heartache just made me a better person.
Our exams are hard because most of our exams are a practical application of what we've learned. However, it's not just simply enough that we deliver something to the table. It's not even enough that we deliver what was asked of us. We had to go beyond the simple task of making a documentary film about women peacekeepers. We had to find real live subjects and we had to make it spectacular in a way that if you were a TV producer, you wouldn't be ashamed of putting or product on air. I belonged in the department that only has very few students. There is always just one section composed of 30+ students every graduation for our department. The first year, usually has 2 sections. At the end of that year there is a screening where each student gets to sell him/herself to a panel and the panel will decide whether Mass Communication is the right fit for you or not. That alone cuts the population into half. After that, we only have very few fall outs.
In order to succeed in this course, you have to be thick skinned! You have to make sure that you take criticisms positively. You can't be whiny and you can't be so self righteous. You need to be flexible especially in making decisions. You need to be always on top of things because things could get messy a lot of times.
My current job:
Currently, I am taking a break from working. After graduation, I wanted to pursue a career in production but unfortunately for me there aren't a lot of openings in that field where I'm from. I wanted to go abroad but I had problems with my name in my NSO Birth Certificate that prevented me from getting a passport. However, all that is going to change because I have already secured a passport and I am going on my first trip outside the country. Hopefully I can shoot videos and take pictures enough for me to create an amazing portfolio.
Am I using what I learned in college:
I can't say that I was able to apply what I've learned in college in work because I wasn't able to work in that same industry. However, the values of hard work and good work ethics helped a lot when I was starting out. I was professional with the way I dealt with my co-workers even if I was just a fresh grad. My supervisors appreciate that I don't complain about a lot of things unlike my other teammates. I handled pressure fairly well which is why I was able to secure a supervisory role after 6 months.
How long did it take to find a job:
It actually just took about a month for me to find a job after graduation. It wasn't my dream job but I had to find work because I promised my Dad that I won't let him support me after graduation. So I landed a job in a call center. I started out as an agent and then worked my through becoming an English Trainer.
Do I recommend studying Mass Communication:
People who want to pursue a course in AB Mass Communication and eventually pursue a career in that field are people who work with passion and heart. Most of the people who take that course are artists. If you are not patient enough or persistent enough then you will not go places in this industry.
Post graduation will not be easy in terms of employment opportunities and earning a living, especially where I'm from. However, it might be slightly different in other places. One thing is for sure though, if you want to take this course and a pursue this career, you have to be prepared for the worst. Trust me, it will make your life easier.
Advice to people who are thinking of studying this course:
If you are planning to pursue a degree in Mass Communication, you have to prepare yourself for a lot of failures. You will often be criticized and you will feel intimidated a lot. All you have to do is take all the bad stuff and believe that the bad stuff will make you great. If an instructor tells you that you didn't do good enough, don't beat yourself up and focus on what he/she said. Instead, you should tell yourself that you can do better. Always have a positive way of thinking because your positive thought can turn the worst disaster into a spectacular masterpiece. Never say never!
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