So you're a communication major. What a great choice! You get to learn about the mass media, communication theories, knowledge structures, broadcast performance, and tons of other cool stuff that goes along with effectively communicating with other people. I'm a media communication major, which is wonderful and I love it, but it can really be a task sometimes. It's especially challenging when you're trying to juggle two news packages, a VOSOT, a 10 page research paper over the music industry, two 2-hour radio shifts, and constantly telling people that all the work will be worth it in the end when you're the next Steven Spielberg.

Sometimes, people just don't understand that there's more than just interpersonal communication going on in our everyday lives. You get tired of hearing things like... "Why do you need a degree for learning how to communicate with people?"

Then you explain to them that communication is way more than just "talking to people." It can be journalism, television, radio, public relations, and sometimes even theater.

Of course, then you get the classic follow up question of, "Well what do you plan to do with that?"

Ha! Great question! Now you have to play it cool and act like you have a plan, because honestly, even you don't really know what you're going to do with your degree yet.

However, if you're someone who's planning on pursuing a career in the entertainment industry, you frequently have the, "You're not going to make any money from this career" talk. I mean, we only reevaluate our career path choices several times a day.

But it's fine, you'll make money....someday.

...maybe.

Your non-com friends don't really understand what you do, how you do it, or why you're so busy all the time.

And you try to explain to them that your life consists of over-committing yourself to too many jobs, projects, and various other activities, while at the same time still trying to maintain any sort of social life and get the "college experience." It's a lot harder than anyone seems to think it is, and this is when you resort back to your friends of the same major who understand your struggle. And then you cry about it together.

Being a communication major can be difficult at times but it definitely has it's rewards.

Between those late nights in the edit labs...

...using your friend's voices for all of your radio spots...

...and complaining about how picky your professors are...

...Your communication friends are always there for you because you're just like family and they understand exactly what you're going through. You all share a passion for storytelling and love bringing people together through the power of communication!