So, what am I doing here?

Entering my final semester as a college student at Northwestern State University, I was not expecting to end up finishing my classes online because of a global pandemic. This is not the Senior year semester I had envisioned, but it might have ended up being the perfect way for me to learn how to adapt in difficult situations. Throughout the semester, even before the stay at home orders, I have learned new things and gained new skills.

My first post on my blog website is an informational guide explaining what I set out to do this semester in my videos. My blog is titled “Hidden Treasures”, because I began the semester wanting to tell students about different services offered to them on campus that could benefit them in different ways. Therefore, my videos were a search for “hidden treasure” on NSU’s campus.

The first news package we were assigned completely wrecked my spirit. I made a rookie mistake and did not back up my footage and ended up losing an SD card, which resulted in me being unable to produce a package in time. I really beat myself up over this mistake, but after continuing in the semester and redeeming myself through other videos, I am more confident than ever. I learned from this mistake to always have a back up plan and to keep footage stored in multiple places.

After losing my first package, I finally produced my first news story of the semester. My Disney College Program package was an informational story about how students can work for the Disney company while in college. This was one of my first times using the wireless microphone for interviews, which was new and exciting, but also scary. The audio ended up working well, but my stand-up was really awkward and it is something I am continuing to work on.

My next package was on NSU’s One Card Office. This package was made to inform students about the office and what they offer to students. I previously worked in this office, so I knew that there were many students who did not know about all the things they had the opportunity to take advantage of, this was the reason I decided on my specific beat. Re-watching this package I cringe at the audio issues, but it makes me excited to see how far I have come, because I can recognize a clear difference. This was one of my first times using natural sounds that went along with the story and I think that is the strongest part of this video.

The next package was about NSU’s Counseling Services. This package was when I started to shift in the semester and really began to grow. The video is shaky and the audio needs to be tweaked, but my beginning sound was a great, creative choice and the graphic at the end helped provide extra information. I think this was a good package that was a great learning experience.

After that package, I went back to the Student Union and filmed a story on NSU’s Career Center. This was a package that I had many technical difficulties with. The audio did not work and I had to use my phone at the last second to record over the video. This was a lesson learned that mistakes are going to happen and each one leads to a better tomorrow. Looking back, I can identify what changes should be made in this package and I think that speaks to what this course has taught me.

After the Career Center story, COVID-19 became the forefront of the news. Professor Gilbert asked us to find a national story and localize it to our beat for our midterm and I knew this virus had to be what I chose. This led to my Health Services story. I ended up getting an interview with the director of NSU’s health services, but this interview did not come easily. She did not want to be videoed at all. This was the first time I had encountered someone who was not willing to be filmed, so I had to think fast and ensure her that it would be quick and I would make her as comfortable as possible. This was a great learning experience, because as a reporter, there are going to be people afraid of the camera, so you have to be comforting to people in order to get good footage.

The Health Services story was the last video I would get to present to my class on NSU’s campus. COVID-19 shut down our campus, so my next video was my Quarantine Video Diary. This was different for me, because at home I do not have access to the editing software that NSU’s campus provided me with. I had to adapt to my situation and I began filming on my phone, then using iMovie to edit on my phone, as well. This video was awkward to shoot, because I had become accustom to filming others’ stories and not telling my own, but this helped me get more comfortable in front of the camera.

Video Diary #2 was just an update on my life in quarantine with my family. It was a sort of bridge video for me to learn more tricks using iMovie and get better with my editing skills. This video allowed me to show what my quarantine life looks like and helped me to open up and let people see more about my life.

Video Diary #3 highlighted how I celebrated Easter Sunday this year while in quarantine. This is one of my favorite video diaries that I have done, because it was a real look at how much this pandemic has changed what my normal life looks like. This video let me be open and honest about how I was feeling and what I was thinking at that time. I think screen recording my church service and added pieces in was a clever idea and it is a new trick I can use in the future.

Video Diary #4 expressed the story of when I realized that this pandemic was not something that would easily go away. I realized that I had done some things for the last time, without knowing it was my last time. This was one of the first times I really started to realize that my Senior year was sort of ripped away from me. I also saw the beauty that has come from this though. That we are learning not to take things for granted and I hope we remember this when this lock down ends.

My Final Video reflects on what I have learned and who influenced me. I am sad to be saying goodbye, but I am more than prepared because of what I have learned here. This class and this semester has taught me many things and I will carry them with me and continue to learn. I hope to make my classmates, my professor and myself proud.

This week in my video diary I discuss the moment when I realized that COVID-19 was not just another virus that could go away quickly. I also, talk about what I think the future looks like for myself and for the world in this unprecedented time.

I hope that we can learn and grow from this experience and move forward with a new perspective on life and the time we have. I am hopeful for things to become “normal” again, but I do not want to go straight back to my old ways, I want to carry what I have learned from this into my life from now on.

This Easter Holiday was unlike any Easter I have ever experienced. Easter while in quarantine made it different, weird even. I spent Easter Sunday with family, which was exciting and fun, but I am looking forward to, hopefully, having my traditional Easter Sunday, next year.

This was my second video diary while social distancing, because of COVID-19. I don’t have access to use editing programs on a computer, so I am shooting and editing on my phone with iMovie. I am still learning how to edit and how to stay productive during quarantine. I am struggling, but making progress and looking forward to returning to normal life once this is all over.

This is my first video diary while social distancing because of COVID-19. I shot everything on my IPhone and edited using iMovie. This was my first time ever using iMovie so I learned a lot and I’ll get better the more I use it.

This whole experience of social distancing has been very odd and caused many changes in my life, so I think documenting it is a great way to remember this historic event we are living through.

In class today I was asked to find and film a story based on my beat that would localize a national news story. Instantly, I thought of the Coronavirus, because that is such a huge topic right now.

My beat is on services or products offered to NSU‘s students that they may not be aware of, so I decided to head over to the Health Services Center to ask them how they are handing the current situation.

This week’s hidden gem on NSU’s campus is the Career Center located on the third floor of the Friedman Student Union. The Career Center offers helpful services such as mock interviews, resume reviews and more.

I had audio issues with this story, so it is not perfect, but I am proud of how it turned out.

Another hidden treasure on NSU’s campus can be found on the third floor of the Student Union. The Counseling and Career Services Office provides services for any undergraduate or graduate students at NSU.

The services are free for students and allow students to discuss anything that they might be facing. If you’re interested in learning more you can visit CCS.NSULA.EDU.

This week on my search for the hidden treasures of NSU I found that treasure on the third floor of the Student Services Center. The One Card Office offers many services to students and not every student on campus knows about them.

I spoke with Mrs. Molly Giering, the One Card Coordinator and she explained that the One Card Office does not simply deal with student IDs, but many other things.

So, if you’re a student wondering about any services mentioned in this video you can visit Mrs. Molly and see what the One Card Office is all about.

This week my treasure hunt led me to a magical place….Walt Disney World. Northwestern State University students have a once in a lifetime opportunity through the Disney College Program (DCP) to work for a highly esteemed company, while making magic every day.

I talked to Rylea Sepulvado, a former DCP participant, about what the DCP is. My hunt also led me to the Family and Consumer Sciences building on campus, where I met Landon Amberg, one of the DCP ambassadors for NSU.

If you are interested in the DCP or would like to learn more you can visit disneycollegeprogram.com!