Public Speaking is not one of my fears, like so many others, since I have been leading groups at my church for several years. This gave me a heads up in SPCH 145: Public Communication. During this class, I learned to organize my thoughts to convey the best possible message.

Through Professor Aunspach, I learned the Bitzer Theory which states that purpose, context, and environment of communication is important. They all impact how an audience receives my message. One of our class assignments was an Advocacy Warmup Worksheet. Through this worksheet, I was able to receive valuable feedback from my peers on one of my speeches. The feedback allowed me to change how I project my voice based on my audience. I was also better able to tailor my message to my audience and give them a clearer perspective. Imagery, painting mental pictures, is one of the tools I used to become a better communicator. I can use these tools when I talk with people face to face or online.

Call Me MISTER (mentors instructing students towards effective role models) Program is an organization that encourages male students to pursue a career in education. The purpose of this program is to get more men of color into the classroom. It is used to inspire others to become teachers and increase the teaching rate of more males providing valuable education to students. I helped to develop the Call Me Mister Program at USC Sumter during my freshman year. As the USC Sumter representative to the annual leadership institute, I was able to serve as the spokesperson for our chapter. During one of the sessions on communication I was able to see that two people can see the same situation differently. For example, I saw 3 blocks and the others saw 4 in the presenter’s demonstration (Artifact). This made me think about how people interpret what I say. A person’s perspective is vital in communication.