Some would consider me an over thinker. I think about many things at many times, and I think that my degree has shaped a lot of how I think.
I completed a Bachelor of Communications, and if I had a dollar for every time I’ve said that to someone I feel as though my debts would be lighter than they are now. But the golden question that comes before this is, “what do I study?’.
To this question, my answer isn’t law, it isn’t medicine nor is it finance or business. Rather, my answer feels underwhelming. It often feels that a positively reciprocated response is disingenuous, sarcastic or uncertain. One of the three.
But I don’t think this is ever out of disrespect, in fact, I could be completely wrong altogether and simply be exhibiting my tendency to overthink in this sentence. But what I believe is often at the root of these responses is one’s lack of understanding of what Communications is.
What is communications?
So then the follow up, “what is Communications?”, to which I struggle to answer.
Ironic, isn’t it? My hesitancy to answer is not that I want to keep my answers to myself, but it is because Communications is so broad. So I tell them that. I say it is broad, that it covers so much, and my favourite line of all, “it is so much more than just communication”.
For me, Communications enables a gateway into a different perception of society. It dissects the ever changing and rapidly evolving technological developments, and therefore its uses.
It introduces theories and concepts of our identities and how we portray them to different people, both in the everyday reality of our world and within the digital space of the online sphere. It allows a perspective to check ourselves while we operate and transition between these two worlds.
It creates an understanding of the causes and effects of people and technology and the ever increasing communication between the two.
Relationships
With this, it shows how relationships develop between an organisation and its publics. It shows that understanding Communications within an organisation, one is able to move from A to B effectively, whilst simultaneously identifying D and planning a route to E.
Yet the development of relationships via the understanding of Communications go beyond those of PR terms and develop relationships between friends, families but most importantly, strangers through interpersonal communication.
In practicality, Communications develops the skills of speaking to people, along with presenting and writing for them. It hones in on the art of writing and speaking by focusing on the assemblage of words and sounds which we so regularly under value in our everyday lives.
With this developed the skills to interact with these aspects of our skill sets and the people we use them with too.
Communications allows the understanding of the interactions and relationships throughout society as a whole. Between organisations and publics, advertisers and consumers, social media bloggers and the average social media user engaging from the couch at home.
Communications provides an understanding of the connections between them all and provides a forecast for the future, along with an understanding of how to approach it moving forwards.
You have those who will study law, medicine, finance or business but it is important to not undervalue the study of Communications. We are all aware that we are in the midst of rapidly changing times, and I believe it is Communications which provides the key to the observation room on it all. It is important to note this.
It is important to note how it builds invaluable skills, develop relationships, prepares the mind and places the world and ourselves in a perspective I believe you can’t garner from any other kind of teaching. And it is important to note that, ultimately, Communications improves communication - and so much more.
Harrison is a twenty-one year old student who is completing his Bachelor of Communications at the end of this year. He was raised in a non-Christian family but has been part of the Church since the beginning of last year. He has a passionate personality which is illustrated in many facets of his life from writing, to sports, food, friends, family and God. Harrison enjoys exploring and grasping different parts of life and discussing them with others. Chat with Harrison further at: harrisonbellve@gmail.com