When I was in High School, I was always confused about which course I was going to take in College. It was a big deal for me, since I realized early on what the importance of having a degree is. So I savored every moment of the 1-year vacation I had, and then plunged into what they called the “College Life.”
I am now an incoming 4th year AB Communication Arts student in Angelicum College, and currently an intern in GMA Network. Within the past years, I had experienced many things, and I must say that some of it changed me a little bit at a time. I already know that who I am now is not who I’m going to be after graduation. Hopefully better.
Now, I’m going to list down 12 things my mates and I can relate to, and assuming that you are a Communication student as well, considering that you clicked on this, hopefully you too.
1. You have so many writing class that you cannot determine one from the others.
You go crazy during classes because you confuse one home work from the other. You’re lucky when you have different professors for each writing class, but when you are stuck with one, good luck knowing which is which.
2. Your professors give you short film projects as a short quiz, and they make it sound so easy.
“Next week, I want you to submit a 5-minute short film displaying ‘Continuity’. No more extension.” This terrified you all the time, because it’s not the only subject you’re taking! There are tons of others that require your attention too! And you need more time for it, you would always think. But you always figured your way out… the hard way.
3. Every major subject starts with “What is Communication?” and you’re sick of it.
You get asked this question, and you answer with “Communication is the transfer of message from the sender to the receiver.” You know this, you know ALL the words just because you get asked this a million times in a year. But the real question is… is it still considered a “communication” if it doesn’t have a feedback? We will never know for sure.
4. You always ask what the relevance of Math and Science with your program is.
You never questioned this in high school, but when you’re a communication arts student, you’re focused on all the articles and scripts you have to write and films you have to shoot, among others. So when a math or science professor gives you a crap load of work, you just don’t know what to do.
5. When you think you have discovered a new and fresh concept, professors will always prove you wrong.
You’ve watched all the samples they have given you, and told you to create something new. But when you submit them your proposed concept, you learn that it’s been made before. So you go back and improve step one: increase caffeine intake until new ideas come out.
6. You always use Courier New when typing scripts.
It’s never been this satisfying to type like this, print it out, and submit it… like a pro! It makes your script look more legitimate, and gives it a professional touch just because you’ve seen actual movie scripts written on this font. Such pro, much font, wow.
7. Professors of minor subjects always say, “Comm arts ka nga” or “Parepareho kayong mga comm arts” when you’re all noisy and hyper.
The truth has been spoken. Most of us communication arts students tend to be the noisy ones, the aggressive ones, or the ones who are always in for debates. Since our program encourages spoken ideas and creativity, we sometimes overdo it. It doesn’t hold true to the other students though. Some can be very quiet, which sometimes can be deemed as creepy students (no offense if you’re the creepy, I mean, quiet one).
8. You hate it when people misuse the word “media”, like it’s a group of people or a company.
When you say Media, people automatically assume you’re talking about a group of photographers, or reporters, or the actual networks like GMA and ABS-CBN. You’re itching to correct them, because you know that media is the plural form of medium, which means the channel or means that you use to send information (i.e. TV, Radio, Print, etc.)
TV is a medium. TV, Radio, and Print are media. GMA and ABS-CBN use media to disseminate news and entertainment. THERE.
9. Radio shows, TV ads, documentaries, and short films: You’ve done it all in less than a week.
During finals week, yes, you magically transform into Quicksilver and do everything in a mad speed. Sometimes you end up editing your radio show at your short film shoot, or writing scripts while interviewing people for your docu, and even rendering your films a few minutes after the deadline because you too like to live dangerously. You automatically become thinking adults when this week comes, being all mature and responsible just to save your arse.
If you’re a good crammer and you’re able to balance time with quality, then you’ll be fine. But if you’re bad at it, I suggest you start praying.
10. When you don’t have your own DSLR, you always know whom you’ll borrow from. When you do have one, everyone is borrowing it.
There is no middle ground. If you have one, sometimes you wish that you didn’t. And if you don’t have one, you’re wishing that you did so you won’t have to borrow anymore. It’s as complicated as your Politics and Governance case digest. You never know who the real victim is.
11. People who know nothing about your course “Communication Arts” always assume that you are going to be a call center agent or a painter after graduation.
And you can’t correct them because they are mostly elder people. You always had to choose between correcting them and respecting them. So you just stand there, nod like a bobble head vinyl figure and sweat nervously. You cannot unhear it.
12. Finally, you know that you will always survive another day.
The gratification you get is always what makes everything worth the sweat and tears, and maybe a few brain cells. Realizing that you made through everything, you’re proud of yourself and you start to trust yourself more. Your belief and faith in yourself grows stronger, because come to think of it, you’ve done all of them! You never thought you could, but you did! Now give yourself a high-five!
For me, there is approximately 1 year left until graduation. Hopefully the list doesn’t go longer than this after that.
Karla Maye 