Sa Mass Comm, Mass-saya!
“Is that why you chose Communication as your course?” the school guidance councilor queried. It took me about 3 long seconds before I answered, “No , Ma’am. It wasn’t.”
The Psychological test was a requirement each student must accomplish and pass before they can apply for their on-the-job trainings. As I was interviewed by the councilor, she tells me that there are some things she needs to discuss with me regarding my test results. Turns out that I have social introversion. I wasn’t really surprised, that’s why it didn’t take me much in explaining the roots of it. The good thing was proactively mentioning my ongoing resolution to the problem. I proceeded telling her that I’ve been exposing myself more to things that I normally wouldn’t dare do but secretly dream to, socializing more, risking more, expressing more, until unknowingly, I’ve already gone out of my comfort zone. To be honest, while I was explaining these things, that’s only when it hit me. The realization came all of a sudden and it overwhelmed me enough that I was so happy to be talking about it with the councilor. You see, I originally didn’t want to take up Mass Communication.
In my old New Era uniform, back when Mass Comm was still part of CAS
Back in 2012, I was given the chance to enroll into College after stopping for a year after graduating from High school. Back then was one of our toughest times and I knew that chances such as this would be rare in the future, so I immediately took it. None of my plans were made true. My first love were the arts, dreaming of taking up Architecture or Fine Arts, yet my Mom wanted me for Accountancy. New Era University wasn’t even considered an option until I figured that it has the lowest tuition fee for a private university. Desperate to continue studying, I agreed even though the school didn’t offer the courses I wanted. Long story short – I took up Mass Communication because it’s the closest thing I can get to arts. I thought, why not? I’d start now since there would only be minor subjects for the first year. Also, if I were to extend my stay, I was confident having my editorial background with my high school paper publication. I simply wanted to start College.
It was a surprise to me when I came back from stopping that the University finally gave Communication it’s own College. I’ve always known that it’s one of the school’s specialties and pride but I’ve also always known that I wasn’t made for it. That’s how I thought about it until I had an unexplainable instinct that I should continue with the course. Little did I know that Communication is something I need to experience for me to improve and better myself while loving what I do.
I was always that shy, timid girl who always sat at the back row despite her poor eyesight only because she was too tall to be sitting in front. I disliked being noticed and talking in front. I liked the safe zone I was in where I can read, draw, and write. But then again, since I’m a Mass Communication student, what good am I if I were to limit myself to that? If it were up to me, I’d finish the course without being magnified, but being New Era’s College of Communication, that isn’t possible. I’d be the first to tell you how true it is when they say that they ‘build professionals.’ Yes, I’ve been working throughout my stay in New Era, but the professionals that the COC pertains to is the professionalism in every aspect of the field. May it be in behavior or the work done itself.
The best part of being in COC is that they recognize talent even when it’s hidden. The professors are the first people to notice it in you and they will nurture what you have till it improves. The standard that the College has within its curriculum is set to train the students to be the future practitioners the country demands. All of that in a realization in the middle of the course, and it’s when I finally appreciate being recognized. The College sees your true potential even when you don’t see it yourself. They will challenge you to do more, to push your limitations. They will hone you to be the clichéd ‘future-ready’ every school claims to deliver, only it’s real in COC. I wouldn’t be saying this to glorify the school or the college’s name, no. But I am saying this out of the gratitude I have for it, since it was the only experience I needed to better myself and step out of my comfort zone.
4 years into my Communication course and I’ve starred major roles in Musical plays and MTVs, written Newspaper articles and blogs, published our own magazine, written and voiced a radio program, anchored a news program, and now even given the opportunity to host a real national TV show. Years ago, you won’t even make audition for anything. It’s still surreal even to me when I think about it. I have years of experience working in the real world but the achievements and goals I’ve unlocked in the College for myself proves how far I’ve come since I’ve entered the University. The College of Communication was something I was never prepared to experience. Being one of the most underrated courses, it now offends me when I hear people comment “Ah, Mass Comm lang naman pala. Masscomm-portable sa bahay. Madali lang yan,” when if someone has said that to me back in 2012 I’d probably be shy to tell them my course and agree with them. It’s so overwhelming to realize how much the College has changed me, in the best ways it could. I have every part of the College to thank for honing me and letting me express myself through ways I only dreamed of doing.
Back in the guidance office, I told the councilor, “I didn’t choose it because I wanted it. But the College chose me.” I smiled because she understood. You need to experience what the College of Communication has to offer you, because explaining it will never do it justice. I wouldn’t be as confident and sociable as I am now if not for that experience. And no, I’m not only in it for the self improvement, in the College of Communication is where I learned to love what I do and it reflects in every medium we use. If I’d be given another chance on a course option, I will gladly choose Communication over and over again.
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