Since september of 2010, I have been attending comm 299 at UBC….for the most part i went into the course thinking that it was a one credit course that would not have any effect on my life and that it was a major waste of time and money…But I was wrong!
During the course of the 2010/2011 academic year I learned many things in all of my courses, but the one course that really pushed me to the limits was comm 299. It encouraged me to think outside the box, and to discover who I am exactly. I can’t say that it has helped me define myself completely but it has definitely put me on the track to figuring out who I am as well as giving me the skills to communicate myself to other people. Here are few of the major lessons I learned in comm 299:
- BE YOURSELF: Be yourself! isn’t that kind of a weird thing to do….aren’t you always yourself? I learned in this class that this is not true. In situations where I am flustered, or where I am around a group of strangers, I unconsciously try to change my behaviours to what I think will best suit the dynamics of the group. This course taught me to have a better control over my feelings and behaviours so that when I do meet new people or employers, they have the chance to see me for who I am instead of a nervous and undefined persona.
- BUILD YOUR BRAND: It is important for you to know who you are, because if you are unable to define yourself you will not be able to communicate your skills and abilities appropriately. This will in turn make you more attractive to friends and potential employers. Considering that coming out of the Sauder school of business, all of your colleagues will have the same credentials you have, the ability to communicate your credentials and what makes you special is the key to a sustainable competitive advantage. This means that spending quite a few hours perfecting your resumes and cover letters are the norm and not the exception. In order to succeed, you need to invest the time in building your brand
- PICTURING THEM IN THEIR UNDERWEAR DOESN’T WORK (:P): The only way to perfect your public speaking skills is to practice! practice! practice! There are few people who can go up to a stage without preparing a speech and do it well. But at the same time, beware of over practicing because giving a robotic speech is just as bad as giving an unrehearsed one.
- PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE!: This is pretty self explanatory. Putting yourself out there by getting involved in clubs and extracurricular activities is the best way to meet and connect with people. More importantly, it is the gateway to making your mark in this world, because the networking and the skills you gain give you more opportunities to succeed.
Surprisingly, comm 299 has been the hardest course of my year even though it is worth less credits, and has also been the one that has given me the biggest bang for the buck. The journey to discovering myself will not end for a while, but I can say with the utmost confidence that this class has given me all the tools required to successfully complete that journey. Lastly, here is a funny video…
