Communication is a very broad area of study. Communication majors can go into content production, speech writing, advertising, journalism, and many other prominent fields. These jobs are valuable to society because they influence how we consume information. I initially thought I wanted to become a journalist, but I have since decided I would rather go into public relations. I was partially drawn to communication as a major because there are so many options within the major. From a practical standpoint, I knew that although some jobs will be automated in the near future, the human capability of creative content production--innovation and imagination--can never be replaced with technology. There are many communication jobs based in those two qualities.
I feel I’ve learned a lot about my field of study from simply living life abroad. One of my professors heavily uses our personal experiences in Seville as teaching examples. We recently discussed how, when conversing with others, we need to be aware of not only what we know to be true, but what the person we are speaking to is aware of. Many times, I’ll get excited when I speak to someone in Spanish and they understand what I’m saying. Only a split second later, though, they’ll respond with a follow-up question I can’t understand. The ability to voice my initial remark isn’t enough to create effective, two-way communication. Both parties need to take into account what the other person is able to understand.
A tile mural of el Torre del Or |
Studying abroad has allowed me to understand how our everyday lives are absolutely reliant on strong communicators. It has put me into real life situations where communication is vital and difficult. Overall, I think my experience as a communication major has only been enriched by learning to live in a foreign country. I hope to learn even more on my journeys.
View of Sevilla from la Giralda |
Kelly M. is the Spring 2018 MOJO Blogger in Seville, Spain. She is currently a Sophomore studying Communication & Marketing at Clemson University.
Kelly McKeon is the Spring 2018 CEA MOJO Blogger in Seville, Spain, and is currently studying at Clemson University.