CC in DC!

Coming into this political communication seminar, I didn't know what exactly to expect. "I enjoy politics and I'll be in Washington DC immediately prior to this seminar anyways for another seminar dealing with science policy, so why not?" Needless to say, I wasn't really sure what to expect. As the week's progressed, I've learned a wealth of knowledge about various opportunities involving politics, the media, and future Washington DC opportunities in the form of internships. We've heard from various speakers in the media as well as directly within the political field. Not only did we get a chance to hear these speakers share with us their triumphs as seasoned professionals, but also we were given the opportunity to ask these speakers questions, time permitting. Although I don't necessarily want to go directly into politics, at least not for now, I feel as if I've gained a better understanding of what this career entails as well as their perspective on media bias and present economic issues. In regards to careers within the media, I know that I don't want to go into a career pertaining directly to journalism or delivering news in front of a camera, but I gained valuable insight into the means by which these professional achieved their professional goals. Ann Compton spoke with us earlier in the week. Little to my knowledge, Ann Compton graduated from a liberal arts college with a degree in general liberal arts studies. Given her success and notoriety, I expected her to have graduated from an Ivy League college with a specific major, so I was pleasantly surprised to hear that she majored, more or less, in a wide range of subjects and she also attended a liberal arts college. I found her response to my question regarding the benefits she feels she's gained from her academic background refreshing, especially since she didn't receive the stereotypical education. This made me more confident in myself as a student at a liberal arts college, similar to Ann Compton when she was still in college.

Although we'll be flying back down south for the winter, I know that I will continue to carry a bit of Washington DC with me, even when I'm back in the science labs and learning in the classroom again. I look forward to seeing how the various lessons I've learned while in Washington DC will continue to positively affect my future, whether or not I decide to go into politics or the media.

Posted by Nikki Atencio