Sanaia Jenkins

Lori Kramer

October 10, 2023

COMM/PUBR 321

REFLECTION AND GOALS PAPER

As a woman in my senior year at Monmouth College, I am pursuing a BA in

Communications and Sports Information & Media minor. In this major, I come with an open-
minded and adaptive mindset. I believe the key to success in this versatile field lies in embracing
change and being receptive to diverse perspectives. My passion for communication stems from
its ability to connect people, ideas, and cultures. Fascinated by the power of words, and how it
impacts shaping opinions, building relationships, and driving positive change. With each
passing day, innovative technologies and platforms emerge, transforming ways we interact and
share information. I am dedicated to staying up to date with the latest trends, tools, and strategies
to effectively navigate and leverage. Although this is my second time taking this course I will
say that my second time around really allowed me to be acclimated and allowed myself to not
only value my strengths but show my weaknesses. I always considered it a very practical,
relevant, up, constantly adapting and-coming major that would offer me an amazing gateway
into several careers. I obtain the message of visual communication and the idea of culture with
social behavior, norms, and habits. But with the help of Muti Media Productions, Sports
Communications, Digital Photography ,Vocational Discern & Career Prep, Persuasion, Public
Relations, Layout Design, Intro to Communications Studies, Interpersonal communications,
Advance Video Productions, Video Productions, Fundamental of Communication, Persuasion
and Women’s Studies and with the help with my recent internship.

The first message of visual communication and the idea of culture Multimedia
Productions shows us contemporary electronic communication technology. Applications include
the creation and implementation of multimedia projects (audio, video, graphics) and website
design/maintenance using direct challenges in our studio and soundboard. Layout design shows
design and layout concepts as they apply to print and electronic communication. Applications
include Web site design and the creation and implementation of media projects with Adobe
(promotional graphics, printed materials, photo illustrations). Persuasion is teaching us to be
professional, write proper emails, and learn the history and development of public relations and
will create a variety of applications (press releases, public presentations, features, How visual
communication enhances the message and understanding by playing a role in your
communication and should help to move your audience closer to your message or call to action
by creating excitement, highlight a message, overcome language barriers, or clarify complex
information. In addition, media is always trending and the more you update your skills, you will
always have a job if that video, behind the scenes, in public relations, or persuading.

The layout and design class showed me concepts of visual appeal and imagery. It also
showed me how to apply my findings to high-quality ,and aesthetically pleasing print and
electronic communication. Applications include website design and the creation and
implementation of media projects with Adobe such as promotional graphics, printed materials,
and photo illustrations. Layout design makes sure that promotional graphics and printed
materials are practiced in developing successful projects with Adobe Software. For example, at
the most recent board meeting on July 25th, it came to my attention by one of the trustee that
because of the heat and some residcents who dont have accesss to air conditioning that need a list
of cooling stations. So, I called around my village and was able to gather and promote cooling
stations and publish to our village social media platforms. Promotional graphics were created to
advertise for our officials swearing in and I was in charge of taking photos of ingoing and
outgoing. Video editing and photography skills are valuable assets in the age of visual
communication. Creating visually appealing and well-edited videos and photos can enhance the
information that's being addressed. A visually appealing message should be clear and easy to
understand. Using straightforward language and organizing the content in a logical manner,
making it easy for the citizens of University Park to understand the main points.

In the courses I took, the Public Relations course at Monmouth College has taught me to
office setting and on a shoot adequate and learn the history and development of public relations
and will create a variety of applications like a press releases, public presentations, features of
how visual communication enhances the message and understanding by playing a role in
communication. In addition, media is always every changing and the more I update my skills, I
will always have a job if that video, behind the scenes, in public relations, or persuading. My
first event as an intern was decorating the golf course for the Village of University Park event
where officials were sworn in. The day before the event. We planned what duties I would be
doing; I was in charge of filming and taking pictures of the outgoing and incoming officials.
Later my photos were used in both the South Suburban Newsletter and University Park
Newsletter. The South Suburban News used my photos of the Mayor of University Park for their
front page and as for the University Park Newsletter; I was incharge of peer editing and any
mistake my supervisor made. Mistakes would be using duplicates of photos, the design of the
third through fifth page and finding any grammar errors.

Journalism workshops and Photography, writing for the school sports pages and taking
sports pictures in Journalism workshops provide me with valuable experience, skills, and
portfolio material that can help me pursue a career in sports media as a photographer or
journalist. Taking sports pictures and writing sports stories in journalism workshops helped me
develop photography skills, where I learned how to capture the action and emotion of sporting
events, choose the best angles and lighting, and edit photos for maximum impact. These skills
are also essential for a sports media photographer who must be able to capture the key moments
of a game or event and convey the excitement and drama through their photos. So when it came
to my internship, I had the opportunity to cover our local baseball team the Crete- Monee
University Park Orioles Going back to the Mayors Swearing I will admit I have difficulties with
the lighting overall at the officials swearing . In the room, it had a window wall and because of it
had natural sunlight and when the lighting changed again with the harsh lighting from the
overhead of the chandelier and ceiling lights cause the same problem so I decided to keep the it
caused Overexposure that's when too much light hits the camera's sensor, it results in an
extremely bright image that is now overexposed. So I decided to keep my flash on by lowering
the Aperture, which refers to the opening of a lens's diaphragm through which light passes.
Through my knowledge in layout and design class, I was able to adjust and find the perfect angle
and get the shot I needed.

In the course I took on Multimedia Production, I learned contemporary electronic

communication technology. Applications include the creation and implementation of multimedia
projects like audio, video, graphics and website design/maintenance using direct challenges in
our studio and soundboard. I was also in charge updating our village calendar updated and
organized through Revise Weekly I am in charge of researching and editing news reels that can
relate to our citizens, that are things published on our WUPC-TV Channel 4 program. I often
attend our Mayor and Board of Trustees Regular Board Meeting to set up our village camera for
us to upload on our various social media and connect it through Zoom so those who didn’t attend
the meeting can view from home. After each news and community reel, I use our programming
log to keep track of everything. In June we had a annual torch run in support of Crete-Monee
High School's Special Olympics, where each community passes a torch to each local police
department. I was in charge of recording and taking pictures of the officials including the mayor,
trustees, citizens and our police chief. I am often responsible for events planned throughout the
summer, so I was taught how to use Mailchimp to reach out to residents and neighboring
communities about our events so I have to make sure that they are well- attended. Mailchimp is a
marketing automation and email marketing platform where I can email blast residents and
officials on daily village events . With my internship, I have gained more hands-on experience
with these tools, becoming proficient in their use. This knowledge can be valuable for future
career prospects in multimedia-related fields. When I took Multimedia with Chris Goble I
directed and conducted interviews with classmates. So taking that knowledge of how to conduct
an interview really assisted with hands-on experience interviewing members of the Village.

Secondly the idea of culture with social behavior, norms, and habits Introduction of Comm
studies shows me contextual theories of human communication to provide a more thorough
understanding of communication processes in multiple contexts (interpersonal, small group,
organizational, public performance, mass, and cultural). Gives attention to the application of
theory in practical settings and criteria for evaluating theories. Women's studies introduce
feminist thought and the study of women's roles and status in society. This course also evaluates
present knowledge about women, questions stereotypes, and reinforces the value and content of
women's everyday lives. Interpersonal Communication is verbal and nonverbal features of face-
to-face communication in everyday life, social interaction, professional activity, and in our
culture. Attention is given to language as a cultural system and as a meaning system,
communication as behavior, relationship development, and communication systems and effects.
Emphasis is placed on understanding theory, systematically observing communicative behavior,
analysis of communication situations, and skill improvement. my time so far has provided
countless opportunities to broaden my perspective to diversify ideas, cultures, and viewpoints.
With the addition that most of the board of trustees and village hall staff are black women. This
expanded perspective can lead to increased empathy, understanding, and open-mindedness.
Engaging in professional experiences often involves connecting with colleagues, mentors,
clients, or collaborators. Building a strong professional network can provide access to resources,
career opportunities, and valuable connections. ensuring effective communication and avoiding
misunderstandings or misinterpretations. It encourages sensitivity, respect, and inclusivity in
your communication practices These diverse skills set I learned in the Communications
department will enable me of contributing effectively to the Village of University Parks