Slow Going
Posted by christophena on June 4, 2008
snail's pace
As a student in Centennial College’s Corporate Communications and Public Relations program, I find that in the second semester of the program not only do I lack motivation, but I am easily distracted and dare I say, downright bored.
I’ve been dealing with this for a few weeks now and I must say, I was delighted to discover that I am not the only one suffering from this affliction. Several of my classmates have expressed the same sentiments. Why do so many of us feel this way? Well, speaking for myself I would say that part of it is that the novelty of first semester has worn off.
But there are other reasons that classmates have cited.
- lighter workload (for some, depending on client project demands)
- antsy to be done already and out in the workforce
- focus on client projects and placements, which take precendence over other courses
- the weather
These are just a few of the ideas I’ve heard floating around and I would have to say that I agree strongly with the first two points. I have too much time on my hands. I want to be working already; making my mark on the communications world, making money. Making money!
I suppose these things will all come in time and I should just be patient. But I have to admit, my patience is wearing thin.
thatsroger said
Christina, what an honest post! It was nice to read. I agree with you about being less motivated this term, but I have a feeling when we are deep into the internship hunt we won’t feel as bored anymore. And if you are asking for work, I’m sure I can come up with some assignments for you to do for me
awordlessordinary said
Hey Christina,
This was such a refreshing outlook on our current condition. I think the proof we are being successful in our program is that we have actually evolved past the point where a lot of the things in our courses have stopped being new.
This puts us in the ‘been there, done that’ category.
We’re looking for a new challenge and the only real direction left is the real world. I’m sure when we have our high paying public relations jobs with our jet set ways we will look back and laugh … or cry.
Cheers,
Brett
noviellim said
Christina, I completely agree with this term being slightly less exciting as last term. However, I fear that once it’s all said and done, we’ll be itching to get back to class. I remember after graduating in undergrad that the safe haven of being in school was no longer there. I was out in the real world, working for real people and inflicting real change. And while yes, the money WAS nice, I almost wished I was back in school doing fake assignments for fake companies.
So I suggest that we enjoy our final weeks in the program, as draining as they may be. Because I can almost guarantee that when we all move on, we will have a moment of longing to be back (even if it only lasts for a second .. a millisecond).
And of course, we’ll all miss each other dearly too! Well .. some of us will.
Melanie said
I’m just reading this post for the first time. Great post and great comments! I agree with all of your points. You are ready for the industry. You just need that danged piece of paper! It’s summer and you shouldn’t be in school. First semester is always better than the last – and I know you had some great instructors. But I will challenge you on one point: virtually everything in my course was new for most of you, no?
“been there, done that” doesn’t really apply to the use of RSS, statcounter, delicious bookmarks, micro-monitoring and micro-content and, even, blogging. This is why I give the diagnostic at the start of my courses – to find out, specifically, what you already know (or don’t) and make adjustments to my course. When I found out that 95% of you said all of this was new, I lightened the original workload. I felt that engaging these tools, ideas and approaches would be work enough – but that once you got the hang of it all, it would be smooth sailing. I really, really hope that you will find this course was useful once you’re out in that corporate/PR world where they are asking “what is all the fuss about social media?” … you can definitively tell them what’s right AND wrong about it all. I hope, anyway! I’m so deeply impressed with you all. It’s been such a pleasure to teach and learn with this group 
christophena said
I totally agree that what we’ve been learning in your course is new and exciting. I am now armed with social media tools that I never knew existed. Online PR has been the highlight of this semester. Thanks for your teaching and great insights.