FriendlyCoogAngie

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Adventures and Experiences of This New Coog @ The Valenti School of Communication #5  FINALS WEEK! FAREWELL TO OUR GRADS .

FINALS WEEK! Greetings my dearest Coogs! We prepare for the end of the spring semester so we often will find ourselves feeling the pressure. Well as the semester comes to an end we are all trying to finish up the last assignments and go over materials for final exams. When others are preparing for their last weeks here at UH. A bitter-sweet moment but overall the ultimate goal for all alumni. 

I can say with great satisfaction that I have successfully completed a full year here at UH. allow me if I may be a bit sarcastic but darn that was one hell of a year. Adapting to a completely new atmosphere and campus and adjusting to new normal amidst COVID. I was eager to intake as much from my courses and finally establish myself in my dream school. 

It has been a financial struggle to be able to pay for school yet an experience I will forever cherish as I am learning from such amazing professors. The workload has been extended not at all what I was previously accustomed to in community college but indeed something I have come to be able to adjust to. It has been a challenge I have loved because I have been able to see my abilities to adjust and intake greater knowledge and skills. 

When I heard of the program I was told by previous students that the professors would assign hands-on assignments that would equip me with real-life skills in public relations as well as public speaking. I believe being at UH has honestly helped me become more comfortable with public speaking and getting comfortable with presentations. I can see the confidence growing in me as I have presented several assignments in the courses I have had thus far. 

I am excitingly waiting for the remainder of my time here at UH k knowing that there is only more growth to come and so much more knowledge to acquire. I advise you our new and future Coogs to ensure you are giving your classes 110%. Make sure to give it your all and push yourself out of your comfort zone and allow yourself to bring forth your full potential. It will be such a rewarding experience to know that your hard work will pay off when you as well as I get to walk the stage for our commencement ceremonies but above all of that entering the doors of the amazing jobs. 

I am a firm believer that UH and returning to school was the best decision I have ever made. Yes, there are challenges but that's life what is really worth it does not come easy. Everyone works and shows up for something they truly want. Your education is the most important investment in yourself you can ever make, and it is essentially something no one could ever take away from you. Make sure to work hard and strive for the best and UH will become a breeze for you when we least expect it we will be doing the same as our graduating class of 2022 is. Congrats to all the Graduates and best of luck in your new endeavors. FOREVER COOGS! 

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Adventures and Experiences of This New Coog @ The Valenti School of Communication # 4

My Dearest Coogs while I was working on a project for my COMM 3369 (Strategic Communication Writing). We were asked to create a newsletter for The Valenti School. A bit of a challenge because if you are like me new on campus, then you refer to the UH website for most information. But if we are being honest here the links to The Valenti School are a bit outdated with information. Of course, it needs a major update. It was until then that I discovered while talking to a classmate that I learned about the Instagram page for our school.

The Instagram page is packed with flyers on web talks, information, resources for The Valenti students and so much more. I was eager to look through it. While looking through past posts I was able to find out that we are partnered with associations such as U.S Fish and Wildlife Services. They have been able to create such web talks with the purpose to create awareness for climate change and better equip us to start taking care of our environment. I continued to browse through it and I was able to find out that this is where the updated information is posted. This brought me to the realization that the times have for certain changed.

I recall making my newsletter and adding QR codes to be scanned with our mobile devices as that sometimes gives us an easier more accessible way to find certain web pages. It did get me thinking that indeed as most of our professors repeat time and time again we have to be able to learn how to navigate new technology as working in the broad communications field highly requires it. Yet not only do we have to make sure we continuously remain tech savvy but we should also create a conscience that we have to be successful at also teaching others around us.

At my current job, I work with some older people and I must admit that even though they try their best with technology. There are times it is a bit difficult for them to get the hang of things. Which got me thinking of my future job working in my field. It made me realize that at school I also found myself a tad bit confused as to managing blackboard for assignments or TEAMS for online classes. It is extremely useful that there was a course I took last semester in which my professor took her time to ask us if we were familiar with blackboard and to those that raised our hand to say no we had a link sent to us with videos on how to navigate such system.

It is nothing new that technology is constantly changing and UH and The Valenti School are making sure we get comfortable with such transitions. I believe there are still people that would really find it helpful to still get the actual Valenti web page updated just for people that struggle more than others with technology and might not have knowledge of Instagram. They also should be made aware of a lot of the insightful information that I might have not discovered if it wasn’t for my classmate and of course my use and knowledge of social media.

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Adventures @Valentischool: Internship Attempt

Hello, my dearest Coogs on this week's blog I will share with you my experience as I applied for an internship this summer. I have to be completely honest I gave it a try even though due to my resume being a bit short didn’t expect to obtain it.  I have yet to get more involved with school organizations. I do intend to slowly since I do have a full schedule on my hands. I have a full-time job that allows me to pay for my studies since I am not eligible for financial aid. I also am a member of the JV Mariachi Pumas and of course, I do not want to lose focus in my classwork. Slowly but surely every semester shall be a new experience for me as I integrate myself more with any events at The Valenti School as well as UH in general.

I wanted to try my luck and apply for the internship would be working for The City of Houston Mayoral Office. I did receive an e-mail letting me know I was not selected for the role. I have previously mentioned in past blog entries being at a new school and not knowing your way around can be very overwhelming. I have however decided to reach out and make an appointment with Deborah Reyes Internship Program Coordinator for assistance and guidance in regards to applying for internships. I am positive she will be able to help me to find an internship best suited for my major.

Little Coogs and Future Coogs my advice to you will always be if you have the means and most importantly time to get involved since freshman year of college do so. I will broaden your opportunities to not only network which is essential but also add to your resume. Remember that internships are experience and potential job offers. Make sure you reach out to Deborah Reyes as well as ask your professors for advice and if they are aware of any internships available. They can also be aware of companies looking to employ you. Apply for as many internships that are made available for you remember that no matter how many rejections you get you at least tried. There will be someone willing to give you a chance but if you give up you might not get to find out. The communications field is so wide you might even land an internship in another area of concentration you might not be majoring in only to find your true passion and calling.

The Valenti School as well as its leadership and staff want us to succeed and will go above and beyond for us as long as we are setting forth our best efforts. There are so many resources available to us that can sometimes only be known about via networking. So putting your communication skills to work will fortify the common saying practice makes perfect. Let’s ensure we pursue the internships and job opportunities even if it is overwhelming.  

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Adventures and Experiences of This New Coog @ The Valenti School of Communication #3

This being only my second semester here at UH has been quite hard to find friends. Especially with COVID among us making our biggest efforts to stay connected via the internet. It is necessary to have human contact with majors such as communication. I tried to navigate to the best of my abilities during my first semester and was able to create some friendships with my peers only to find myself saying goodbye as they walked the stage at their commencement ceremony. Leaving me at square one in the venture of on-campus classes at a new school such as UH. 

I remembered that a few years back as I was figuring out what I wanted to major in and what university would be the best fit for my transfer. I reached out to one of my friends I met back in middle school as I was aware that she was soon to graduate from UH with a communications major. She was of great help then to explain her initial process as to how she decided on attending UH herself. 

I recently reached out to my dearest friend Yasely Carrizales to get more insight into her experience and overall advice not only for myself but for all our freshmen or future coogs to come. Yasely graduated in Fall 2014 with a major in Broadcast Communications and a minor in Spanish. She mentioned that she knew she had a passion for communications and helping her community and just knew this would be the best career choice for her. UH was always her dream school aside from being near home. Yasely explained that her family is one of the most important reasons for her to stay in town as for most Latinos. UH would be a no-brainer choice for her as it would be for any other Hispanic/ Latino student. 

Aside from the close commute to her family home UH was by far the University she felt was the best fit as she found it extremely inclusive in diversity. Yasely fit in like a glove and advised me of such inclusive ambient, years prior when I initially asked for her advice. I was fascinated when I found out she was working on El Gato Media Network. I would take a listen to the station when I knew she would be on and it was at that moment I was convinced I wanted to experience that myself. It was until I saw the amazing work Yasely has done thanks to her experience at EL Gato that she went on to work for some amazing radio stations like The Bull and Mega 101 for some time. 

I took the opportunity of asking Yasely what advice would she give new students and her response was “ my advice to new students would be to focus on their studies, get involved with organizations, have a group of people who can help you and show you around, ask questions even if you think they are stupid, go to seminars and visit different colleges to make sure you do something that makes you happy”. Words that resonate so much as I know many new students might be thinking the same as I did once. Feeling overwhelmed, nervous, and maybe uncertain. 

I initially wanted to study the same as Yasely did. The big reason being  I also wanted to help out in my community and realized that this career path just like Yasely would generate me such an opportunity and platform to do so. I have now decided I want to major in Public Relations and minor in Journalism. Something I owe a lot to the amazing advice and mentorship from this amazing young woman I admire so much and look forward to possibly working alongside her in the near future.

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Adventures and Experiences of This New Coog @ The Valenti School of Communication #2

I have been extremely busy studying these past couple of weeks for some exams as well as completing mid-semester projects. Which normally always calls for me to pop in my AirPods and blast my music. Something that is so therapeutic for me as I accomplish a lot of my daily tasks. However, as I have recently found out I very much enjoy listening to podcasts varying in topics. 

I had knowledge of us having our very own radio station on campus but never of an existing podcast. Press Play Podcast is the name hosted by Valenti faculty in both English and Spanish. The key role of such podcasts is to showcase expert communication professionals and their outstanding work as they make an impact in their communities as well as around the world. 

One of the episodes I found extremely fascinating was from season 5 episode 1. Professor Craig crow interviews Susan Elmore founder and CEO of one of the most well-known PR firms in Houston Elmore PR. She speaks about how she started such a firm. She started working in the Hotel industry managing PR firms.  Elmore found the work fascinating she decided it would be something she would transition into her own business. The insight into all the nonprofits they work alongside and offer public relations representation. Especially transitioning into green initiatives around the city. 

In the podcast, they also speak about the importance of communication that our professors remind or should remind us every day. The high importance of clarity, credibility, and integrity. She goes on to provide us as students listening in with amazing tips as we as future Public Relations professionals. She mentions the high importance of storytelling in any field as communicators no matter the field. The enormous role confidentiality takes in our role as PR representatives of the companies we work for. 

Listening to this episode gave me so much insight into the PR world I will soon be entering. I have been wanting for so long to work for non-profits and basically stay local as a native Houstonian. Listening to all of the amazing projects that have taken place such as the inauguration of discovery green and many others with the help of this PR firm is insanely encouraging. Susan Elmore definitely is someone I would love as my mentor. Just listening to all of the work she has done and all the representation she has done around the city, as well as in other cities, is true proof of her outstanding work. 

I will not lie it is a bit overwhelming at times and intimidating to think that such responsibilities will lie on my shoulders once I graduate. Yet I feel confident that with the education provided at The Jack Valenti School as well as my discipline and dedication to my studies it is something I can succeed in. I witness every day as I sit in my classes now as I cross my second semester at UH that I have the great honor to be learning from some of the best in the business.

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Adventures and Experiences of This New Coog @ The Valenti School of Communication

Starting college is sometimes an overwhelming feeling not only as a recent high school graduate admitted into a four-year university but also for us transfer students. I recently transferred to the University of Houston as i got accepted into the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication. I was extremely excited as I was nervous. Transitioning into a new campus without the ability to take an in person tour. Until mid Fall 2021 semester I actually located the Valenti building, since most of my classes have been in other buildings within campus. 

I decided this semester to actually take a tour of my own and kind of get familiar with the building. While I was given an assignment for my COMM 3369 Strategic Communication Writing class. I walked around the building finally seeing in person what the website showcased about the Valenti building. Slowly I will be getting familiar with the building and the resources provided to me by my college by each day I am on campus to explore more around the building and socializing with peers from my classes.

 So the other day I walked into the Communication Technology Center located in the second floor of the building. It was for pure research for my multimedia project and I was pleasantly surprised to see such a great space fully equipped with computers and tech- gadgets all at hands reach if ever I am in need to use them. I mean God forbid my laptop quits on me one of these days, but it is with great relief to know I have a place I can go to specifically in regards to my major. I am sure that not only I would have access to technology but also have someone there to help if assistance is needed. 

I decided to stick around that day to do a little note taking for my classes and after that get a bit ahead in my research for my project. It was a beautiful day with a breeze so delightful to enjoy the courtyard. It was one of my favorite things as I felt so at peace in-taking some fresh air as i studied. I think honestly if weather permits the courtyard will completely become my go to study location maybe even my picnic area to have my lunch instead of crowded and loud student center. 

I also took note of multiple flyers students and organizations place around the building to inform students of important information. I found a couple of interesting ones that I am sure others might find insightful. I mean who doesn’t want scholarship money, or know if there is any work-study available , and also the opportunity to join an organization. I am not the only person that has or maybe even still feel lost about how to find such information on my own. Finding such flyers put me a bit at ease to know that I can always find important information at the Valenti School itself if i cannot locate it online. 

That being said I invite you to stick around as I continue sharing my experience through my college journey at the Valenti School. I will make sure to also inform you in case i find information that can assist others like me and of course our Freshman new comers. 

Signing off off your Friendly Coog here Angie.