Communication is key

The reason universities require students to take a communication course is to educate students on the variety of ways in which we communicate. This may seem very common sense, however, it is amazing to draw awareness to the plethora of ways in which communication occurs. Whether it be verbal or nonverbal, it seems that we are constantly sending and receiving messages from the environment and the individuals around us. A formal education in communication can improve all the areas in which we communicate.

In my daily life, I use communication in talking to my friends, peers, and professors. I use both verbal and nonverbal communication to convey my thoughts, ideas, opinions, and feelings. I often use my telephone to send and receive both text (written) and oral messages. I feel like I am communicating everywhere I turn. When I am walking to class, I make eye contact with strangers that pass me by. I also wave, or offer a couple words of greeting when I pass a friend or acquaintance. While driving, I wave to allow people to cross the street, and I make eye contact with other drivers on the road so that we can communicate that I have seen them (both for safety and courtesy reasons). In class, I make eye contact with the professor to let he or she know that I am paying attention. I also speak with the professor, making certain to hear what they have to say and I ask questions when I do not understand the message being sent. I communicate with my friends throughout the day when we are both physically present to speak to each other. Otherwise, we communicate through "facebook" and with the use of our cell phones to text or call one another. I prefer to communicate in person because I can greet my friends with a hug to communicate my care for them, and they are certain to always understand what I say when I say it. I am also likely to best understand what they are trying to communicate when we speak in person.

The most common type of communication that I use, is interpersonal. I have found that I am most comfortable in interpersonal communication settings. These settings offer a more personal and direct type of communication. I feel that this type of communication is the most rewarding, for it is intimate, one is able to find out a great deal of information from the other person in communication, and there is a lesser chance of misunderstandings taking place. Interpersonal communication also offers both people a chance to let their guard down and present the most genuine form of self.

As a result of taking this class, I hope to improve my ability to speak in a concisely, and improve my group communication abilities. I have always struggled to be concise in my stories, explanations, and even responses to simple questions and I hope to improve upon this. I also seem to freeze up and focus on monotonous details when speaking to a group of people even when it is a small group. This behavior that has repeated itself several times, has made it difficult to be comfortable in group settings and feel confident in my ability to address more than two people at a time.