My Personal Statement

Communication has influenced my personal, academic and professional interactions. My communication journey has been influenced by both the academia and real-life application of communication theory and strategies. As a communication scholar, the theoretical frameworks of various communication theories have opened my eyes to the ways messages are constructed, delivered, received, and interpreted. My communication journey has proven invaluable in my work as an educator and leader, shaping my approach to both interpersonal interactions, group facilitation, and large-scale initiatives. Communication links vision with action, challenges with solutions, culture with people, and individuals with communities.

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I think back to where my interest in communication began, and one of my first realizations about the importance of communication. When I was enrolled in community college, I was required to take an undergraduate introduction to public speaking course. At that time, I was introduced to the pillars of Aristotle’s rhetorical teachings of pathos, logos, and ethos. Once the course was complete, I never practiced or revisited the content again. A few years later, I came to a realization that that coursework was going to be very important for years to come. I had been recently promoted to a program facilitator position. This position required me to plan and facilitate trainings, small and large group activities, and meetings with program partners. I remember preparing for my first presentation. I worked really hard to develop a presentation. My supervisor kindly let me know that I had missed the mark. The procedures and details were accurate and logically sequenced, but I was failed to integrate the two other pillars of Aristotle’s public speaking: establishing credibility and eliciting emotion. The experience was humbling. I was fortunate that my supervisor became a mentor who coached me. I went on to learn various communication and group facilitation strategies. This experienced sparked my interest in learning more about communication.

 

When I found the communication program through Gonzaga, I was intrigued with the program curricula that linked communication with leadership. For years, I worked with the Title-I, Part-C, Migrant Education Program (MEP). I began to observe how those in schools, at regional and at state offices approached their communication and public relations differently. Later, my civic engagement  led to an appointment to my local school board. This civic engagement added depth to my understanding of the public education system. I came to a second realization in my communication journey, that just like a business or organization, strategic public relations and communication plans are just as essential in education. A well-developed public relations and communication plan can create or maintain an image and culture that a school or program wish to uphold. It can paint a clearer picture of the state of a school system, new initiatives, success stories, and relay critical or time sensitive information to families and the media. The public relations and organizational communication coursework provided frameworks for developing strategic public relations and communication plans, identifying key performance indicators, and auditing the effectiveness of the plans. These frameworks can transcend into other areas such as the development of strategic training and work plans.  

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Perhaps the most meaningful realization from my communication journey has been observing the instructional and facilitation modeling from various mentors and professors. I aspire to model and grow those skills with future communication scholars by teaching at an undergraduate level. I was fortunate enough to have mentors and professors who modeled a learner-centered and asset-based approach in the classroom, and who believed "everyone has something to contribute." Those mentors made learning meaningful by integrating elements of human experience, reflection, and real-world application. As someone who overcame significant obstacles in my educational journey, I understand how education can promote upward mobility. My life experiences and coursework in communication and teaching pedagogy has provided me with a foundation to engage with students from non-traditional and underrepresented backgrounds in a post-secondary space. Through an experiential, inclusive and learner-centered approach, I hope to empower others to seek upward mobility and explore the theories of communication.

 

Just months away from earning my Master’s degree in communication and leadership, I know my communication journey is not coming to an end. While my formal education may stop, I know my path will allow me to still learn and grow. I look forward to the next chapter in my life where I can continue to learn and apply skills to become a more effective communicator.