Unexpected. If I had to summarize my first three semesters, my first year-and-a-half at the University of Maryland in one word, it would be unexpected. There have been so many twists and turns, shocks and surprises, it feels like I would need three websites just to come close to encapsulating it all. I have so much I want to talk about, and I really could go on for hours if I was permitted, so I will focus on a select few topics that are pertinent to my college experience, the overall experience at the University of Maryland, and society at large.
The first thing I want to discuss is my Scholars program - more specifically, its name. Media, Self, and Society might seem like a relatively simple name, and on the surface it is, but what both the name and class represent are so much greater than those three words. With today's landscape being shaped by media and how it is consumed by the general public, it is more important than ever to realize just how strong of an impact media has on us. There is not a second of the day that passes that the media does not shape in some way. The constant, 24/7 nature of news and media alike has permanently changed society for both better and worse, although it is not yet seen which of those wins out in the end. That is one of the things that this program has taught me over the past three semesters; media is constantly a part of our lives, even when we don't know it is and when we don't want it to be.
One thing that I have done more because of this class is critically analyze media, rather it be for an assignment or subconsciously while I'm scrolling on Twitter. A specific time I can think of is "Deconstructing the Nightly News," which I did this semester and is actually an assignment I discussed and linked on the "Assignments" tab (go check it out). Because of this class, I had already been approaching media with a more intensive mindset, but this assignment was more in-depth because I had to see what criteria, if any, news stories met. To my surprise, almost every story met criteria such as "Elite People" and "Continuity." It reinforced the media's preference for stories they can latch onto and suck dry for as long as possible, an idea that this class helped me develop.
While I have learned how to critically analyze media, it can still lead to misunderstandings. One misunderstanding of media I have noticed throughout my time in Scholars is how I brushed off social media in regards to having such a strong impact on the media. I understood it could have an impact, as I went to Twitter for news frequently and saw the President's tweets pretty regularly, but I did not expect it to shape discussion and almost take over television in a way. Now, more and more political figures are using social media as means to convey their message, rather than making television appearances and interviews. Because of the emphasis the multiple media classes placed on it, it raised my awareness of the potential of social media and how it can change the landscape of news forever.
Being a critical consumer is a concept that Scholars introduced me to, and I quickly developed the thought there is nothing more important in regards to media than becoming a critical consumer. To me, this means engaging in media actively, not just mindlessly scrolling on a social media feed or grazing headlines. It involves fact-checking, analyzing what you're reading and the message that the source is trying to convey, recognizing bias and how that has shaped the article, and trying to link together things you are currently reading, have read, and may read about in the future. A lot of these sound relatively simple, and can seemingly be chalked up as being mindful, but it is such a crucial shift to make if you are currently a passive consumer. Being able to readily engage with information in a time where there is an overwhelming quantity with a lack of quality can help you discern what category something falls into, which is something I value so much and thank Scholars for introducing me to.
While I have had to up my game in terms of critically analyzing news, I can't entirely say the same in terms of personal convictions. Politically, a lot of people, at least based on interactions I have had with class members either in- or out-of class, align with me politically, which admittedly isn't the best for developing more complex and in-depth opinions, but I do try to expose myself to differing opinions outside of a Scholars setting so I don't ensnare myself in an echo chamber. However, I have experienced challenges to my opinions in a vast array of other topics. So while I can't say I critically engage in opinion-based discussion as much as I analyze the media, that isn't to say I don't do it at all. I have had eye-opening talks with peers regarding the system and business of college, how to handle certain interactions that can be tricky, and what the media's ever-growing and evolving role in society can mean for us going forward. All of these have been essential in furthering my opinions and learning more about topics, something I will aim to do far beyond my time in Scholars has passed.
A selling point of Scholars is the benefits of a living-learning community, where you are in a residence hall with people who you share a residence hall with. Admittedly, because of COVID-19, this isn't something I got to fully embrace over the past three semesters, but I did get to experience it my first semester, and it was a really beneficial experience. Being able to leave your room, head to a lounge and be able to talk to a group of people that are all in your Scholars class helped me make friends and learn more. It was a welcome part of my experience, and something I wish I had more time to experience.
In addition to interacting with my peers outside of the classroom, I have done so in the classroom as well, primarily because the format of the class made it easy and welcoming in regards to participation in discussions. Starting off with the news recap of the previous day allows for a variety of topics to be introduced, so there is likely at least one thing each person in class is able to talk about. I really appreciated this, as this is what allowed me to participate in class so much; it was interesting discussion that was easy to partake in. I also believe that the field trips provided me a way to get engaged with both the class and the content. For example, the Newseum trip was a fun, rewarding experience that helped me get more involved in the program.
With all of this, I do believe that what I have learned in Scholars will stick with me for the rest of my life. The main takeaway for me is to always critically analyze media and never just accept what I see at face value. It is something I have mentioned throughout this reflection in different ways, but it is something I feel is truly valuable in today's world and society; the media will never go away, and neither will the influence it has on everybody. Additionally, Scholars showed me how valuable and enriching discussions can be when the topics are relevant and the floor is open. A lot of classes I've been in haven't had discussions this engaging, and they felt more like pulling teeth than trying to learn. Scholars changed that for me, and I'll try and carry that spirit with me throughout college. Overall, I am super thankful for the opportunity to be in Scholars, and am lucky to have learned and taken so much from my short time in the program.
The first thing I want to discuss is my Scholars program - more specifically, its name. Media, Self, and Society might seem like a relatively simple name, and on the surface it is, but what both the name and class represent are so much greater than those three words. With today's landscape being shaped by media and how it is consumed by the general public, it is more important than ever to realize just how strong of an impact media has on us. There is not a second of the day that passes that the media does not shape in some way. The constant, 24/7 nature of news and media alike has permanently changed society for both better and worse, although it is not yet seen which of those wins out in the end. That is one of the things that this program has taught me over the past three semesters; media is constantly a part of our lives, even when we don't know it is and when we don't want it to be.
One thing that I have done more because of this class is critically analyze media, rather it be for an assignment or subconsciously while I'm scrolling on Twitter. A specific time I can think of is "Deconstructing the Nightly News," which I did this semester and is actually an assignment I discussed and linked on the "Assignments" tab (go check it out). Because of this class, I had already been approaching media with a more intensive mindset, but this assignment was more in-depth because I had to see what criteria, if any, news stories met. To my surprise, almost every story met criteria such as "Elite People" and "Continuity." It reinforced the media's preference for stories they can latch onto and suck dry for as long as possible, an idea that this class helped me develop.
While I have learned how to critically analyze media, it can still lead to misunderstandings. One misunderstanding of media I have noticed throughout my time in Scholars is how I brushed off social media in regards to having such a strong impact on the media. I understood it could have an impact, as I went to Twitter for news frequently and saw the President's tweets pretty regularly, but I did not expect it to shape discussion and almost take over television in a way. Now, more and more political figures are using social media as means to convey their message, rather than making television appearances and interviews. Because of the emphasis the multiple media classes placed on it, it raised my awareness of the potential of social media and how it can change the landscape of news forever.
Being a critical consumer is a concept that Scholars introduced me to, and I quickly developed the thought there is nothing more important in regards to media than becoming a critical consumer. To me, this means engaging in media actively, not just mindlessly scrolling on a social media feed or grazing headlines. It involves fact-checking, analyzing what you're reading and the message that the source is trying to convey, recognizing bias and how that has shaped the article, and trying to link together things you are currently reading, have read, and may read about in the future. A lot of these sound relatively simple, and can seemingly be chalked up as being mindful, but it is such a crucial shift to make if you are currently a passive consumer. Being able to readily engage with information in a time where there is an overwhelming quantity with a lack of quality can help you discern what category something falls into, which is something I value so much and thank Scholars for introducing me to.
While I have had to up my game in terms of critically analyzing news, I can't entirely say the same in terms of personal convictions. Politically, a lot of people, at least based on interactions I have had with class members either in- or out-of class, align with me politically, which admittedly isn't the best for developing more complex and in-depth opinions, but I do try to expose myself to differing opinions outside of a Scholars setting so I don't ensnare myself in an echo chamber. However, I have experienced challenges to my opinions in a vast array of other topics. So while I can't say I critically engage in opinion-based discussion as much as I analyze the media, that isn't to say I don't do it at all. I have had eye-opening talks with peers regarding the system and business of college, how to handle certain interactions that can be tricky, and what the media's ever-growing and evolving role in society can mean for us going forward. All of these have been essential in furthering my opinions and learning more about topics, something I will aim to do far beyond my time in Scholars has passed.
A selling point of Scholars is the benefits of a living-learning community, where you are in a residence hall with people who you share a residence hall with. Admittedly, because of COVID-19, this isn't something I got to fully embrace over the past three semesters, but I did get to experience it my first semester, and it was a really beneficial experience. Being able to leave your room, head to a lounge and be able to talk to a group of people that are all in your Scholars class helped me make friends and learn more. It was a welcome part of my experience, and something I wish I had more time to experience.
In addition to interacting with my peers outside of the classroom, I have done so in the classroom as well, primarily because the format of the class made it easy and welcoming in regards to participation in discussions. Starting off with the news recap of the previous day allows for a variety of topics to be introduced, so there is likely at least one thing each person in class is able to talk about. I really appreciated this, as this is what allowed me to participate in class so much; it was interesting discussion that was easy to partake in. I also believe that the field trips provided me a way to get engaged with both the class and the content. For example, the Newseum trip was a fun, rewarding experience that helped me get more involved in the program.
With all of this, I do believe that what I have learned in Scholars will stick with me for the rest of my life. The main takeaway for me is to always critically analyze media and never just accept what I see at face value. It is something I have mentioned throughout this reflection in different ways, but it is something I feel is truly valuable in today's world and society; the media will never go away, and neither will the influence it has on everybody. Additionally, Scholars showed me how valuable and enriching discussions can be when the topics are relevant and the floor is open. A lot of classes I've been in haven't had discussions this engaging, and they felt more like pulling teeth than trying to learn. Scholars changed that for me, and I'll try and carry that spirit with me throughout college. Overall, I am super thankful for the opportunity to be in Scholars, and am lucky to have learned and taken so much from my short time in the program.