Exploring Collaboration
This case study examined the climate change social movement and showed how communication shapes its impact. It highlights figures like Greta Thunberg, explores how media and messaging create urgency, and connects these ideas to concepts like language strategies and organizing audiences. This project showed me how important it is to share ideas, stay organized, and communicate clearly to create a strong final message. In the end, it helped me better understand how communication can both inform people and bring them together to support change.
For my senior capstone class, my class chose the topic of consumerism. I was able to work with an amazing group of ladies on the subtopic of the overconsumption of media. My group focused on educating IUI students on their media consumption. We surveyed students, created a website with information and resources, and had a tabling event in the campus center. My group did these things to raise awareness among students and help them understand the effects of overconsumption and ways to reduce it. Our website is available to everyone with more in depth resources.
Influencing Public Discourse
Reflecting on this experience, I realized how impactful it can be to turn research into something interactive and accessible, and how important it is to communicate messages in a way that actually connects with people and encourages change.
Understanding Culture and Identity-based Differences
Communicating Appropriately & Ethically
This project focused on cyberbullying and harassment, an issue that continues to grow as younger children gain access to social media. I gained a better understanding of how serious cyberbullying is and its emotional and social impact. Our goal was to spread awareness by sharing information, risks, and prevention strategies. While challenging, we were able to communicate our message effectively. Our group found it rewarding to see our ideas come together, especially through our Instagram account. Overall, this project helped me understand the importance of promoting a positive online environment.
I gained valuable professional experience as an HR volunteer at Valle Vista Health System, a psychiatric hospital and recovery center that provides care for adults and adolescents dealing with behavioral health, psychiatric, and addiction disorders. During my time there, I supported daily operations within the Human Resources office by organizing employee records, assisting with data entry, and completing various administrative tasks. This experience strengthened my organizational skills and highlighted the importance of clear communication in a professional setting. It also gave me a better understanding of how HR functions contribute to the overall success of a healthcare organization.