Don't Forget to Tweet Today ;)

I must admit that upon registering for this course, I had no idea what to expect. Even my advisor was not quite sure what this class would entail, but I decided to throw caution to the wind and go for it. I am very glad that I did. (Had you asked me 3 weeks ago if I was happy with my decision, I may not have felt the same way haha)

Over the last 6 weeks, Dr. Messner has helped us explore the rapidly evolving world of social media. He also introduced us to a variety of non-profits. We had the unique opportunity to participate in discussions with these organizations and see how they utilize social media in their efforts. Now I appreciate just how significant social media is. It has been integrated into business, politics, and communities everywhere. Its full potential is something that still has yet to be reached, however, many entities have benefited from its potential. Bottom line, social media can either work for you or against you. I prefer to understand it so I can use it to my gain.

Having completed all the work, I feel like I have come a long way. I am proud of my group’s work and I still find myself thinking of ways to tweak our campaign. I enjoyed the chance to be creative and explore ideas. Working on a campaign was something that I had not done before, but it was eye opening and interesting. Working on your own/with a group is cool. I like the freedom of this process, and I am comfortable letting my work speak for itself.

Yes this class was time consuming and challenging given its condensed format, but it was also relevant and applicable to my life. Working with a group and meeting deadlines is something many of us will face in the professional world. Where better to hone your craft then college? At the end of the day, I feel employers just want you to get the job done, and they have little patience for excuses. Odds are they do not care about “bum” group members and technology problems. They want the job done. This class taught me not only to work with others, but how to increase my productivity. Working with limited time and high expectations is stressful, but dealing with stress is an essential skill for all people. This class felt like a job, but I feel that it is great preparation for my career.

In conclusion, this course was challenging but rewarding. It was interesting and I will actually use what I have learned in the future. Dr. Messner was an outstanding professor and I hope to work with him again. I applaud his assistance and the crew that helped with class communication and “IT” problems. Using Facebook as a class forum in tandem with the class website was genius. This class has been my favorite here at VCU thus far, and I would certainly recommend it to any serious student out there.
Congratulations to my fellow classmates, and bravo to Dr. Messner and Jeanine Guidry!