Key takeaways from a proud mass comm major

I must preface this journal-like entry by expressing how special it is and how lucky I feel to love what I study as deeply as I do. If you are not a college student or have simply never gone through the process of selecting a major with hopes of sticking to it, you may assume that this isn’t something that I should have to be so overly grateful for. Why would anyone put forth such an excessive amount of effort/money towards studying something that doesn’t set their soul on fire? Unfortunately, I’ve found there are many reasons while firsthand witnessing best friends and school peers lose interest, simply change their minds “too late”, etc. 

My journey of selecting the ideal college major, a process that felt like an embarkation on a quest to discover what ignited my passion, began with the decision to be a psychology major. This choice was driven by my fascination with the intricacies of the human mind which eventually led to my newfound love for communications, unveiling the captivating connection between understanding people and cultivating compelling messages. I’ve always sought answers to why people people think and behave the way they do/where all forms of human motivation stem from. What better avenue than psychology, right?

A few initial psych courses allowed me to delve into cognitive psychology and work towards unraveling the mysteries of social behavior while being offered new perspectives on the complexity of human emotion and decision-making. But then somewhere along the way, I stumbled upon the dynamic world of communications and took my first class in LSU’s infamous journalism building. It took one course for me to comprehend the extent to which communication is far more than just the exchange of words; it’s about connecting with others on a profound level. Intrigued by the power of crafting and shaping messages that resonate with a variety of publics, I decided to pivot toward a communications major, eager to explore this unique intersection.

During this transition, I discovered that my passion for all things psychology seamlessly aligned with the realm of communications. In essence, both fields revolve around understanding people and their interactions. Studying human connection became my focal point, and I came to recognize that effective communication is the thread that weaves such connections on a broader scale. Considering the fact that communication is rooted in the art of persuasion, crafting messages that both conveyed information while also evoking emotion AND driving action became a thrill that I have yet to stop chasing. Within my classes and during my former/current internship opportunities, I have thrived while seeking ideal ways to market products, advocate for causes, and build unique brands. This in turn has taught me just how crucial of a role psychology plays in creating impactful communication strategies.

With all that said, I am eager to share some of my most powerful takeaways from being a mass communication major who’s also earning a psychology minor. 

1. Your inability and unwillingness to collaborate with and work alongside individuals far different from you says MUCH more about you than it does them. 

I stand by this statement for a plethora of reasons beginning with the sheer fact that we are not supposed to be copied and pasted versions of each other. It is so important that we acknowledge individualistic differences and ACCEPT, LEARN, and GROW from them, rather than forming assumptions or shutting down perspectives distinctly unique from our own.  

2. Our world could use a bit more empathy.

I so often observe the culture of American societies feeding into cycles of carelessness and emotional insensitivity. Yet, we find ourselves wondering why everyone is so fearful of try to be “different” in any regard. 

Human empathy serves as the glue that binds societies and fosters understanding among individuals. In a landscape marked by diverse perspectives and experiences, empathy acts as a powerful catalyst for compassion and connection. By attempting to put ourselves in others’ shoes, we become capable of breaking down barriers, reducing conflict, and building bridges of mutual respect. 

Empathy fuels positive social change, encouraging a collective mindset that values kindness and consideration. In a more empathetic world, people might just be a tad more inclined to support one another, creating a ripple effect of support and understanding that extends across communities. Perhaps then, differences may truly be celebrated, and the shared human experience can take precedence.

I sincerely believe that making small decisions to embrace empathy every day has the power to cultivate a harmonious global environment. Whether it comes to you in the form of complimenting strangers, sending simple “thinking of you” texts, striking up sincere conversations with the grocery store clerk who seems to be having a bad day, covering someone’s shift because they’re faced with an unexpected situation, or literally anything else that may feel like an authentic act of kindness- you are making a small difference in the big scheme of a sometimes cruel world.

3. Standing for something is important; being capable of hearing the “other side” is equally important. 

In today’s world, we so often boil personal opinions and beliefs down to oversimplified broad categories such as opposing political parties. We tend to form assumptions about what someone might think/their take on something based on something entirely unrelated because of our oversimplifications. Though this process of oversimplification is human nature, it often hinders our ability to truly hear others out. 

While learning about everything my college has to offer on the topic of effective communication, I have identified that getting far in terms of relationship building and establishing trust is next to impossible without absorbing the layers of what makes others feel or think differently from you. Because of our nature, we are capable of forming strong beliefs that can dictate aspects of our lives. Regardless of whether you seek to stand for such beliefs on a quiet, personal level or as a public figure, you must understand why and how someone could combat you on the topic, while still maintaining control of your ground.  

4. Purposeful expression intertwined with intentional listening is key to success.

Whether you are thinking of what successful communication looks like in a romantic relationship, professional setting, or platonic friendship, how you outwardly express your thoughts, feelings, and ideas must go hand-in-hand with internalizing the other side’s thoughts, feelings, and ideas. 

5. Creativity comes in all shapes and forms. We are all capable of being “creatives.”

Sure, I’ve heard the word in the form of an adjective thousands of times, if not more. 

“She’s a creative individual- just look at her painting style!” 

“My favorite brand always comes up with the most creative advertisements to sell their products.”  

Comprehending the meaning of the word in the English language is pretty straightforward. Unfortunately for me, I had never been exposed to the word in the form of a noun until what I believe was my second year of college. I started taking classes such as digital advertising, media writing, and visual communication where professors would repeatedly speak on the potential held by myself and my classmates regarding working professionally as “creatives.” Suddenly the word applied to my life more than I ever fathomed it could. 

I’ve never been a particularly talented painter. Nor would I consider myself an incredibly elite graphic designer. Yes- the incredibly creative art of dance used to be my entire life and personality. But no- I no longer define myself solely through this form of creative expression. Truthfully, I recognize there are many things rooted in creativity that are not specialties of mine at this present moment.

With that said, I DO know that my ability to express myself through the written word is a form of creativity that sets me on fire. I know that I thrive off curating aesthetic social media content for/about things I feel passionately about. I also know that when tasked with developing innovative ideas for projects such as marketing strategies, I tend to light up and produce concepts that I didn’t know my brain was capable of thinking up. 

The point is that creativity is so much more than your classic art forms or capacity to use hard skills while dealing with elaborate software. Yes, it can encompass those things and they can be incredibly valuable. However, we are ALL capable of bringing something new and “creative” to the table. We are ALL capable of being “creatives” (regardless of what you may study or even what you don’t).

6. You WILL be criticized regardless of what you do; it’s up to you to make choices despite that.

This takeaway of mine applies directly to, well, every facet of my life. Though it’s certainly a hard truth, I believe that the sooner you embrace it the happier you will find yourself. Whether it’s making the choice to take a certain direction with a work-related idea, posting on social media, getting involved in something a bit “out there” for you, etc., there’s a good chance people pay minimal attention until they have something to critique.

Let me be clear- I hate that I’ve witnessed this cycle as many times as I have within my life and while observing the patterns of others. Fortunately, we as human beings have the power to overcome criticism and even disregard it at times in necessary situations. 

I also want to clarify- I am ALL for constructive, healthy criticism and wholeheartedly believe we could all use a bit more from time to time. With this particular takeaway, though, I’m mostly referencing the sort of intentionally negative feedback given at times to drag someone down. Only you can rise above such criticism and continue in a direction that you find fulfilling far beyond the whispers that make you hesitate to live how you want to live. 

Just as I thoroughly expressed previously, I am truly fascinated by what clicks with some and what feels entirely meaningless to others. These six tidbits of discovery hold great significance for me. I found myself creating a long list while thinking up seemingly endless significant takeaways, but chose to limit myself to just sharing these guys for now. I hope at least one of them resonates with you no matter who you are or what your story is. 

Sincerely,

SB