Welcome to my Blog!

The creation of this blog is part of my final Communications Capstone COM480 course at Ashford University. This is my final course at Ashford University!! So as I begin the journey of creating my very own blog I am filled with both excitement and nervousness. While I love to write, the idea of being critiqued by others is a bit intimating.

As I got started on google blogger, I was happy to find that creating a blog is not quite as difficult as I thought it would be. However, I am aware I have much to learn. In his article, “7 Elements to make your Blog Look Great” Martin gives some great pointers. He states good blogs should have structure, balance, color, clarity and emphasis, functionality, remarkability, and small detail (Martin, 2014). To get myself started, I choose a layout that is not too busy but had enough fields to provide both structure and balance so that the reader’s eyes would not be overloaded.

I chose a color that represents me: Pink. 

It is Graduation Time…

 

When we all embark on new journeys with excitement.  As working adults we enroll in college excited for change and personal growth.  Some enroll seeking promotion in a career, financial security, new knowledge, and some just enjoy learning.  Along the way we encounter obstacles that bring us through struggle, frustration, stress, and even fear.   Life gets in the way and can distract our goals, for me that distraction was ten years long. But today, I have arrived at the end of my journey and will be graduating with my B.A. in Communication Studies.

We all have heard the saying “Life happens” and it does, but when we look back we realize that everything we have been through plays a role in the development of our personal character and who we are as a person.  It all has purpose.

Influences around us develop our genes and traits. Sometimes these very influences limit us from being able to experience opportunities; but we should always seek to learn, grow and develop.  When we do we will find genes and traits within us that we never knew existed. 

I can’t stress to anyone how important it is to believe in themselves and embark on their journey to fulfill whatever goal it is they have left dormant in the inside.  We can do anything we put our minds to with hard work and perseverance.  It is our choice.  Never let your environment or circumstances hinder your dreams or growth for too long.

We all were created for a specific purpose and I believe we should focus on bettering ourselves and in helping others.  Now that I am graduating, I am excited to find a job within communications that will allow me to serve others and help encourage them to take their first step.  The first step is always the hardest, but just like a baby who just learns to walk, once the first step is taken there is no stopping us.

Communication Theory

Human Communication is made up of key principles that are important when trying to convey messages across to others.  Four key principles that are very important are:  communication is a process, communication is irreversible, communication is transactional and communication includes both content and relationship management (Kreps, 2011).  Communication is a constant process that never stops because we are constantly sending messages and trying to understand the meanings of communication that is both sent and received. 

Communication is also irreversible.  Once we send a message, it can’t be retrieved.  For example, many of us have heard of the popular sayings “Words are powerful” and “Think before you speak”, well they are both very accurate.  Once we say speak words to someone, they can’t be taken back.  We must keep in mind what is we want to convey in advance before we speak because they will influence our relationships with others.  When we communicate messages others will process them and develop a perception of who we are.