ShoreCents

Salisbury University Communications Department and other Ruminations

[shorecents]

Blog Post #16 Conclusions about Virtual Communication 6/27/22

The science of virtual communication is as vast as the science in the physical world. While we are still learning about effects of the virtual world, we can probably feel confident in at least one thing - the virtual world is here to stay. Computer mediated communication is now so ubiquitous as it has pervaded our schools, work, commerce, relationships, recreation, entertainment, and a host of other aspects of our lives.

Because spoken language is a more natural and instinctive form of communication, human beings have to learn to adapt to the virtual experience. Our brains are hardwired for speech and written communication is a greater challenge to our brains. In the virtual world, there are so many communication barriers and constraints in the virtual world. When we are divorced from face-to-face interaction, we have reduced feedback and social cues, visual anonymity, and we lose many of the nuances of communication in the physical world. Media richness, or lack thereof, can affect communication. Our experience and skill with a particular communication medium builds our capacity for cognitive adaptation. Some, less natural mediums, require greater cognitive effort and a greater need for cognitive schema. Media naturalness comes from experience and when affordances are acted upon.

As we become more fluent in virtual communication, we can achieve new levels. Cognitive salience is the awareness of our personal identity at a moment in time. Communication effectiveness is also contingent upon our preferences, the sense of community within the medium, and propinquity where choice of medium affects relational closeness. Electronic propinquity through CMC can contribute to a sense of psychological closeness.

The virtual world clearly comes with advantages and disadvantages. There are not only communication barriers and constraints, but there is a learning curve that must be overcome. Some view the virtual experience as providing freedom of expression. Others experience depersonalization, where they no longer think of persons as individuals but rather representatives of certain groups. Some people build relationships online. However, dangers arise when hyperpersonal relationships develop.

All in all, my experiences have been both enlightening and positive. As I traversed the course content, I felt myself relating my experiences to the ideas and theories. I felt like our class virtual community grew, just as my cognitive salience began to develop. I learned to navigate the blogging platform and I ventured into new virtual experiences like Second Life. In my virtual world experiences, I became aware of community spaces and witnessed how the virtual world can provide an escape from the confines of the real-world. It’s been quite a journey.

[shorecents]

Blog Post #15 Virtual World Identity vs. Real World Identity 6/26/22

Human beings are complex creatures. We are not only composed of unique genetic characteristics, but we are a compilation of unique experiences. Therefore, our identities are the sum total of countless factors. The difference between our virtual identities and our real world identities is the the difference between the summation of those factors.

I have changed my position regarding my own virtual vs. real world identities. Originally, I maintained that they were the same. However, now I believe that they are similar but have various shades of differences. Furthermore, I believe that participants in the virtual world have many different identities, myself included.

What make me - me - in the real world? Obviously, it's a lot of things. To an outsider, I might appear to be an average 22-year-old guy. Fairly outgoing, friendly, sporty, etc. Clearly, however, I'm much more than that. So, while I believe that I don't misrepresent or intentionally aggrandize myself in the virtual world, I do believe that my virtual identity is merely a fraction of me. Our virtual identities also suit the purpose for which we are immersed. For example, in the gaming world, I might use avatars that have mohawks and add 100 pounds of muscle to my body - clearly not me. In the social media world, I don't fully disclose my opinions on events and issues, but I have them. So, my social media identity is not a fully developed representation of me either.

So, all in all, as a complex human existing in a complex real world, I believe my virtual identity is just a shade of me.

[shorecents]

Blog #14 Adventures in Virtual World Continued 6/26/22

An hour went by before I knew it. Ironically, however, I felt the need to retreat the entire time, retreat to the real world that is. My adventures in the virtual world have not necessarily been enriching. Enlightening, yes, but as for adding depth and meaning to my life, no.

Let me first start by explaining my virtual experiences - they were relegated mostly to three worlds: Madden on-line, Second Life, and my sister's Minecraft game.

As a sports fan, especially a fan of the NFL, my Madden experience never ceases to disappoint. Returning to it is like riding a bike for me, as I grew up playing with friends. Today, the computer simulations are life-like and, with the expansive playbooks, users can really gain a better understanding of the game as well as the talents of the players. As an adult, I still become immersed in the game, but I also see the toll the experience takes on your time. It's easy to spend hours playing because your brain is always looking to achieve new heights in the gaming experience. When I walked away from playing, more than an hour had gone by.

And speaking of time, Second Life is another virtual world that can take you away for a significant portion of your day. One of the aspects of this platform that I found enticing is the number of worlds that you can explore. Literally thousands. I found myself teleporting from place to place, trying to find one that suited me best. All of my traveling, however, was spent in vain as I never really found any place that kept my attention. My experience did give me an understanding of the value of a virtual world like Second Life. It not only allows you an escape from everyday issues and stressors, but participants can formulate relationships online and revisit their shared spaces.

My third virtual world experience was with my teenage sister's Minecraft game. She brought me to creative worlds that she had created and we invited friends over to explore with us. I was impressed with the vast array of materials that you can use to create structures, to garden, to hunt and fish, to cook, and basically to survive in a primitive "virtual" world. I found this game to be especially enticing if you were looking for some alternative form of mind therapy. The game was far more immersive than simple apps that you play on a phone and, according to my sister, it is a form of "escape therapy."

All in all, the metaverse is not only an alternative reality, it is an adventuresome experience. It's like taking a vacation from everyday life. It's just that some of us don't have time for vacations.

[shorecents]

Blog Post #13 Second Life 6/24/22

It's not my thing, but Second Life seems to have a lot of enticing features.

The online experience is as different as exploring a different planet. Second Life offers a variety of spaces ranging from Nova Owl (a General setting) to Endless Summer Beach & Café (a Moderate setting) and from Metro City, which is a space for the LGBTQ+ community to Breathe Day Spa (both Adult settings). You can visit a variety of categories, over 1000 spaces altogether. The multi-dimensional virtual space of Second Life includes maturity settings of either General, Moderate, or Adult, as well as free and low cost marketplace adventures.  A variety of avatars are available to create your persona and communication is available in a variety of ways including voice, group chat, or instant messaging. With a vast array of virtual travel destinations and social spaces available, Second Life can be used in an educational setting, as a place for people who might find comfort in interacting with others under the guise of an avatar, or simply as a space to connect with others.

I teleported to a variety of destinations including the Netherlands, The Lighthouse, The Shambles, Blueberry, The Golden Hair, and Campwich Forest Lodge. I first visited the Netherlands in the world called the Dutch Estate, which fell under the “Photogenic Spots” category and came with a “Moderate” rating. My time there was simply spent exploring the beautiful landscape, which reminded me of an alternative Minecraft world. It was also lonesome as no one else was there at the time. In Campwich Forest Lodge, I joined a dance party and did the monkey robot, a little weird to me but hey, obviously fun for others. I also flew to the outer edges of the land and jumped in a pool but I was told that I was getting kicked out because it was a private area. I was a little out of place in Blueberry, which had a lot of rainbow flags and buildings strewn with "pride" messages. In the Shambles, I tried to make a friend by walking up to someone but they told me to "F#*$ off." Finally, in The Shambles, I got a random friend request and a message that offered help in getting to know the place. I didn't answer though.

The chat function is certainly important in Second Life and without chatting much, I don't think I got the full experience. I was intrigued by the world map, however, and enticed to explore and use all of the functions.

[shorecents]

Blog #12 Oh, what a network we weave! 6/23/22

If we were to weave together the various roles that we hold, the communities in which we belong, and the networks that we have formed, we would most likely produce a very strong fabric.

As sons or daughters, brothers or sisters, family members, boyfriends or girlfriends, friends, students, colleagues or coworkers, or even seekers of entertainment, we have so many opportunities to meet people, extend our connections, and add to our strategic alliances. Our networks extend from our communities, both real and virtual and strong-tie and weak tie. Our human networks may not always provide the intimacy that many of us desire, they certainly provide social capital.

In the real world, probably like most people, I first belong to my family network, which is the strongest network to which I belong. Following my family, my friend network is my second strongest. Both of these networks provide strong-tie bonds and emotional support.

As a student at Salisbury University, I belong to a weak-tie bridging network. Within this network, I am surrounded by a diverse group of people with a variety of backgrounds, but we are joined together by an interest in education and an inherent desire to grow as learners.

Within my workplace, I belong to both strong-tie and weak-tie networks. As a realtor in a large community of realtors, we belong to a large network of information. While we may have common interests and goals and have access to common resources, we are not tightly connected relationally. Thus, the greater realtor community is clearly weak-tied. However, within my small work circle, we have greater trust, support, and emotional bonding.

Lastly, in the virtual world, I belong to a large network of people through social media. We have been joined together through friendship, acquaintances, geographic location, and other networking modalities through the use of CMC. We have a vast array of backgrounds, experiences, etc. and we function together as an informational resource. To sum up the virtual network as a whole would be like placing a picture of my face and connecting it with numerous grayed out pictures of nameless faces. I could extract different people from that large network and place them in any of the aforementioned groups, but the group as a whole is substantially disengaged from any personal relationship to me.

The poet John Donne said "No man is an island." We truly exist as part of larger communities, and we cannot dismiss the importance of all kinds of networks.

[shorecents]

Blog Post #11 Real, virtual, or virtureal? 6/23/22

The question which asks the difference between our real and virtual identities assumes that there is a difference. For many people, different identities may emerge depending upon the communication landscape. But let's get real...can't there just be someone unaffected? Someone who is the same in both the real and virtual worlds?

Perhaps I'm an old soul, but I maintain that the person that I present in the virtual world is the same as the person that I present in the real world. My participation in the virtual world is rather limited, but the platforms which I do use do not get a truer or less genuine version of me. At the very most, my virtual identity is slightly more guarded and perhaps a bit more professional, but all in all, it's the same me.

I recognize, however, that this is not always the case for everyone who navigates between the two worlds. Social media is the first virtual platform that comes to mind. This is a world where people only put their best self forward. Generally, our news feeds are inundated with happy individuals posed in flattering ways and pictured in soft light filters.

Conversely, in other worlds, one's virtual identity may be more authentic. In the real world this person may feel hampered by social norms while the virtual world allows this person to dwell in a place where they can be themselves.

So, can we be real in a virtual world? A charlatan in the real world? Or just a little bit of both - like virtureal? Yes, yes, and yes.

[shorecents]

Blog Post #10 From In-Person to On-Line 6/22/22

The spring of 2020 will forever live in infamy. Besides the obvious changes in our daily lives brought on by the worldwide pandemic, students across the nation were introduced to an entirely new notion of 'classroom' and whole new methods of learning.

Enter Zoom, the virtual classroom, accompanied by a foreign set of rules and behavior expectations. With this new educational landscape, new issues arose for individuals ranging from mental health to identity awareness. The social identity model of deindividuation effects (SIDE) is a theory that examines social dynamics through the use of computer-mediated communication (CMC). Two effects resulting from the great virtual migration included both deindividuation and depersonalization.

When I experienced the abrupt switch from face-to-face learning to virtual learning, I felt as if I lost my identity quite a bit. Professors, I believe, struggled in how to involve and engage students. Many students, myself sometimes included, felt unsure about expectations and turned off their cameras. Expressing ourselves oftentimes was reduced to the chat bar. Consequently, we received no real feedback from our participation. No head nods. No smiles. No affirmation. No validation. Eventually, even chat bar participation became minimal. I felt as if we grouped people into two categories: those who liked to share and those who didn't. In the processes of deindividuation and depersonalization, we established new norms, ethics, and values.

The new educational setting certainly provided a lot of material for employing the SIDE theory. However, in order to truly analyze the social effects of online learning, I believe that we have to trace it from the beginning. Since the spring of 2020, we've learned a lot about navigating ourselves in the virtual classroom. Do we still have issues? Yes, but teachers have learned how to be more engaging and students have learned ways to assert preserve their identities.

[shorecents]

Blog Post #9 Impressions 6/21/22

I don't believe that I've met any of the students enrolled in the Salisbury University summer session of Comm 490, but I can say these things...

You're a smart group of people. Your discussion posts all say something unique, and I am continually impressed with how reflective everyone is for each question posed to us.

I can tell that everyone is pretty media savvy. When I began this class, I was a fish out of water in the blog world, but I could tell that many of you were very skilled in using the platform.

You are all hardworking. Besides handling this class, which we all know is a lot, you all seem to have work and other life responsibilities that you are juggling.

You're all really good writers. Your blogs say it all!

Lastly, I really get the impression that, with your impressive backgrounds, you're all going to go on to do great things!

[shorecents]

Blog #8 Closer Relationships Via Social Media 6/16/22

They may be far, but human beings are close on social media. My use of social media is very cursory. I use it to stay in touch with high school friends, to follow certain public figures, and to network for my professional work. When I first considered the question of how I’ve used social media to enhance a relationship with someone distant, I immediately thought that I really have never used social media to increase my social/emotional relationship with anyone. However, after some deeper introspection and reflection, I realized – who am I fooling?

As a huge sports fan, and particularly a Ravens and Lamar Jackson fan, I commonly troll those players. I have even tagged them on certain posts in hopes to gain their attention. Thus, I would have to respond affirmatively to the question at hand. My experiences have afforded me a sort of social media relationship with Patrick Ricard, the Ravens fullback. A few years back, Ricard posted “Ask me anything” on his story. He didn’t have to post that twice - I asked what game during the past season was his favorite to play in? Ricard answered. Not two weeks later, he posted that he was in Ocean City. I sent him a Direct Message reaching out to him, asking him if he needed any suggestions on where to eat. He not only answered me, but later he sent me a follow-up DM with a picture of him at Seacrets, my recommended establishment. Since that time, we have had several conversations about the seasons through Direct Messaging.

This all might not sound like a lot, but to a crazy sports fan, it’s a big deal. Professional athletes may be bigger than life, literally, but they might be as close as the click of a button in the world of social media.

[shorecents]

Blog Post 7 Communication Topics 6/14/22

Who knows who said it first, but the term "fake news" has become so ubiquitous that people have grown to distrust even the most reputable news sources. Is social media responsible for this? Is social media the modern day evolution of yellow journalism? The impact of social media on the hard news industry is one topic worthy of exploration.

Is Social Media the 21st Century’s Version of Yellow Journalism? - Sheridan

Yellow Journalism was coined back in the early 1900s, referring to sensationalized news reporting. Although we have come a long way in the p

Another topic that I find intriguing is the influence of mass media on organized social action. Questions associated with this topic include: What are the basic roles of mass media? What are the basic responsibilities of mass media? What roles should social media CEOs in policing social media and using algorithms for targeting?

[shorecents]

Blog Post #6: Social Media and Interpersonal Relationships 6/12/22

I was first introduced to the world of virtual relationships in the sixth grade when I heard that the Media Specialist in my school moved to our area after meeting and eventually marrying a science teacher at our local high school. A sixth-grade brain was thinking "how weird." My 22-year-old brain, however, is now thinking "good for them."

Personally, I have never begun or ended a relationship on social media, but I do use it to maintain them. Social media provides a special convenience for adults to maintain relationships begun at an earlier age, where the parties have literally moved, and occasional physical proximity is no longer possible. It's just a simple way of keeping in touch. Furthermore, for busy adults, especially now that many are working from home, social media provides a means to connect to others in a romantic way. Again, good for them.

For young people, in my opinion, it's a double-edged sword. As social beings, humans tend to crave some connection with others, and social media is a convenient tool for anxious, shy, lonely, and/or isolated teens. In these cases, social media's expediency in promoting connection to others may be a life saver, but it can also send someone down a dark and dirty rabbit hole. Innocence can be lost on social media because, in the virtual world, we cannot fully know the other person across from the screen nor can we fully trust them. We can't determine whether both parties are emotionally invested in the same way either. That's one of the major constraints of its usage. Hence, one party or both parties are always vulnerable.

I certainly see the value of social media as keeping us connected, and, if that means beginning an interpersonal relationship, that's even better for those parties. Loneliness, isolation, anxiety are all barriers in staying connected with other humans and social media provides the means to assuage some of those mitigating factors.

Ending an interpersonal relationship on social media, on the other hand, is a different story though. Ending a relationship is complete and finite and it can be devastating for the receiving end. If that social media relationship progressed beyond the virtual world into the physical world, and then was severed using the virtual world, that could cause emotional destruction. Even if the relationship didn't evolve into the physical world, the end to the virtual relationship could be upsetting. Unfortunately, in our world today that blends the physical and the virtual into a new reality, social media is an expedient form of communication. The bottom line is there are no rules; there are no controls. Social media is an amazing tool, but like any instrument in the toolbox, it can be dangerous.

The Impact of Social Media on Interpersonal Relationships - Jarvee

by: Caleigh Mei T. Tan Social media is an indispensable part of modern society, but have you ever stopped to think of how exactly this new c

[shorecents]

Blog Post #5 6/8/22 Development of Communication Skills

Examine your communication skills over the last two years.  Have they improved?  Discuss in the post the changes in your skills as a communicator across different media.

British entrepreneur, Richard Branson, said “You don’t learn to walk by following the rules. You learn by doing, and falling over.” During the past two years as a Salisbury University Communications major and dual minor, I have certainly had opportunities to polish my communication abilities. Fortunately, the practice has paid off and both my written and oral communication skills have improved immensely.

As a senior, looking back at my communication skills as a college sophomore is almost like being a high school senior looking back at my maturity level as an underclassman. Oh what a difference two years makes!

First, I have learned the importance of planning and revision. To illustrate this is easy. A 20+ research paper due in Communication Research class doesn’t just happen overnight. It necessitates a lot of reading, drafting, editing and revision. Secondly, I learned the importance of elaboration. As a novice writer, I was inclined to err on the side of brevity. While I truly believe that, at times, “less is more,” that is not the case when you are tasked with discussion questions. Next, I learned to talk before a group. Presentations are definitely pervasive assignments across all disciplines, and I have had my share of them. I learned to enunciate – wearing an N95 mask kind of forces you to do that and I learned how to use my hands and body to convey emphasis. Frankly, I learned a lot by evaluating others. Lastly, the complexity of my sentences, my writing style, and my grammar/mechanics have all improved. Experience might have something to do with that.

Regarding my skill development in various media, that too has progressed. Not only have I created and maintained websites, but I have also learned Excel, mastered presentation software like PowerPoint, become an amateur at Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, explored career building sites such as LinkedIn, used social media for public relations campaigns, and now added blogging to that list.

All of these experiences have sharpened my skills and made me a more fluid and dynamic communicator.

[shorecents]

Blog Post #4 6/6/22 Compensating for Lack of Media Richness in Virtual World

It's no secret that face-to-face communication provides a rich and meaningful communication experience. Being in close physical proximity to another human allows one to decipher body language and facial cues, both of which add great details to the exchange. However, it doesn't necessarily follow that virtual communication provides a poor communication exchange. In fact, in many ways, virtual communication can sharpen language, increase communication productivity, and become a preferred method in many circumstances.

Communication in the virtual world, whether it be through text messages, e-mails, or some social media platform, should utilize precision in language and should be mindful that communication is two-way. Certainly, there are many constraints in the virtual world, mainly the absence of facial expressions, intonation, speech flow, cadence, and volume, and body movements; however, it's possible that the absence of these communication modalities can be advantageous. Someone shy or embarrassed, for example, may feel unfettered in the virtual world, and emboldened by the freedom to speak honestly. In their case, the computer or phone screen is like a shield

For me, communication in the virtual world is like going back to elementary and middle school Integrated Language Arts classes, where the teachers would prompt students to "show, don't tell." Our words must be able to stand alone, without the crutches of other communication support systems. Words should be honest and precise, and they must impart or "show" the meaning that you are trying to convey. I try to be concise in my virtual messages. In order to add media richness to my virtual communication, I try not to be vague and dramatic, and if I don't understand something from another participant in the communication, I ask. I believe this process keeps the parties on task and productive because it is free of all of the interruptions that physical proximity might bring. I always keep in mind that when the communication is between two or more parties, I also have an obligation to the others to try to virtually listen. Acknowledging one another in the world of virtual communication not only shows respect and validation, but it also advances discourse. Resolutions, conclusions, and plans for action can be made when virtual parties focus on the sole task of communication. Words are rich and powerful, so powerful that they don't have to always be accompanied by facial expression and body language. I keep all of this in mind in order to compensate for the lack of media richness in the virtual world.

[shorecents]

Blog Post #3 6/5/22 Communication Effectiveness in the Virtual World

A universal definition of communication tends to include the sending, receiving, and processing of information. These messages may be conveyed in a variety of ways beginning with the old-fashioned way of physically interfacing. This face-to-face communication not only relies upon words for message decoding, but also facial cues, body language, intonation, and volume and pace of speech. However, in the virtual world these wonderful communication enhancements get lost. So, when we assess ourselves regarding virtual communication skills, we have to ask ourselves, how precise is your written language and is it being processed in the way that you intend it?

Virtual communication skills should not be confused necessarily with virtual communication tools. As we know there are myriad virtual communication tools including popular social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, and TikTok), e-mails, websites, career building sites such as LinkedIn, presentation programs like PowerPoint and Prezi, and of course blogging. At this point in our technological world, this list is nearly endless. All of these platforms provide numerous ways to accentuate messages from typeface to photographs, to gifs and emojis, to stylistic backgrounds; however, our communication effectiveness will always boil down to whether the message was received and processed in the manner in which it was intended.

In assessing skills in communication, I tend to concentrate on the very primary mode of communication: words. Are my words clear? Honest? Appropriate? Well-received? Understandable? Perhaps most importantly, do they convey the meaning that was intended?

Unfortunately for many, the temptation to gain attention, viewership (followers), or be the first to react to an issue in the virtual world supersedes well thought out communication. The end result sometimes includes misinterpreted messages. How often do we see celebrities backtracking on or clarifying a statement that they have made on social media?

All of these considerations form the basis by which I try to communicate effectively in the virtual world. In short, I prefer to speak, or write, meaningfully and intentionally. As far as my skill in using the virtual communication tools goes, I am probably better than most. Many of the features in these tools are similar and become intuitive when leaping from one virtual platform to the next, but we can never, ever underestimate the power of words.

In the virtual world, precision of language is truly the goal. So, how are my communication skills in the virtual world? Well, how well do you understand this blog post? That's the answer.

[shorecents]

Blog Post #2 6/3/22 No Man Is an Island ...

said the poet.

Human beings in general are not only social creatures, but they rely upon other humans for their very existence.

Let's start with Maslow. Before anything else, we require other humans to satisfy our basic requirements of food, water, shelter, and security. Then, we move into our psychological needs. In the traditional world, we work together on projects. We interface in business transactions. We play together on teams. We meet up for lunch. We congregate in public areas. We talk, laugh, and cry together. We hold hands and we hug. The impact of human touch is immeasurable, but at the very least, it satisfies our need to belong and feel loved.

Yet, in our modern world, we have also established virtual communities. These communities scope a vast landscape of social media platforms, e-mails, texts, and gaming. While these communities fail to offer the power of propinquity, they still connect us and address, to some degree, Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Rice maintains that there are benefits to isolation; however, his reasoning has to be considered short sighted considering the recent course of events with COVID-19 when people were forced into isolation during the pandemic. When this occurred, some people found themselves in utter isolation, bereft of even virtual connections. Even though we are emerging into a new, post COVID era, we are now seeing the social, emotional, and physical effects of the world-wide shut down, and they are not good. Mental health has risen to become one of the top priorities in our schools, hospitals, and in our communities - both large and small.

On a personal level, I enjoy my privacy and even lonesomeness; however, I value the choice I have to engage with others or sequester myself. When that choice is taken away, I believe that basic human needs go unsatisfied. And, when that happens, not only are human beings stifled in their development, they actually become less human.

[shorecents]

Blog Post #1 6/2/22 Just an Eastern Shore Guy

​Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.” Carrying the ‘beautiful’ within us is not hard to do when you grow up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Growing up outside of Ocean City, Maryland, I have not only had the fortune of beautiful scenery, but I have been raised with the good old-fashioned values that come with this pristine area. Maryland's east side is certainly unique. Life along the east side of the bay isn't fast paced; it isn't pretentious, and it isn't spent in highly developed areas. Instead, we prefer to slow things down and make good use of time. We get to know each other and we value honesty, fairness, and genuineness. Rather than watching the traffic reports, we watch sunrises and sunsets. This lifestyle allows for reflection - it allows us to stop and think about our blessings and appreciate our surroundings. Enter Brett Berquist, me, a contemplative 22 year-old with a love of anything sports related, the outdoors, and a fondness for meaningful conversations.  When the time came for me to decide about colleges, the decision was not difficult for me. Why travel elsewhere when there is an outstanding institution in my backyard? Thus, I came to Salisbury University. Now here I am entering my senior year. My career at SU has been interesting. I have switched my major five times, finally landing upon communications with a concentration in public relations. I will graduate with two minors: Public Health and Marketing and, along the way, I also obtained my real estate license. My educational background is eclectic and dynamic, and it is my hope that I will be able to use it to enrich the lives of the people around me. With a solid background in communications from Salisbury University, it is my goal as a realtor to make people's dreams come true as they seek to find their home on the Eastern Shore.

[shorecents]