Communication Major at PLU — Student Perspective

Hey all! My name is Kateryna. I am second-year student at PLU, studying Strategic Communication and here’s everything I do in this field:

I am on the Leadership Board for the Tour Guide Program. As a tour guide, I get to practice the true art of communicating with people as I lead tours of the campus for incoming and prospective students. It can be a challenge to be put on a spot or asked tricky questions, and I definitely use my class knowledge on how to keep my audience engaged and comfortable during the tours.

I also work as a Communications Intern for the Admission Office. This job includes more writing, but it also provides me with a freedom of creating and delivering information to people in multiple ways.

I am Editor-in-Chief of The Mast, the PLU student-led newspaper. This is where I truly give myself to being a communicator — a glass window between two worlds. I love interviewing people and hearing their perspectives to write stories that shine some light on things everyone might not know.

Last but not least — I love my communication classes! We haven’t done a lot of academic writing, instead, we practice news writing, blog writing, research and scientific writing in a language that is available to broad audiences. We also learn about how people communicate outside of writing. We talk about visuals, design, sounds, intonation, and voices behind everything we call communication. The professors in the Department of Communication, Media, and Design Arts are friendly and inspiring. I really recommended taking classes with Sean Robinson if you are looking to find your voice in writing and learn to clean up those sentences. 

All in all, everything I committed to do at PLU turned out to be a perfect match for my interest in communications and writing. I’m also learning many management and leadership skills along the way which will come in handy at any point of my life. Find more information on The Department of Communication, Media & Design Arts website.