These four years at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh-ULAB have really made a significant impact in my growth as a person and a professional. At the beginning, I was an ambivert student, struggling with my confidence, unable to channel any of my interests or abilities. However, things at the Media Studies and Journalism Department took some turns that were beyond my anticipation. Valuable skills that helped me grow into a more confident, capable, and motivated person via engaging coursework, hands-on projects, and faculty guidance.

This rare blend of C4D and DJ has enriched my academic journey. For the first time, C4D courses opened my eyes to see the powerful role media can play in promoting social change and development. Be it through designing a communication strategy for a real-world challenge or participating in participatory research, I have learned how to apply theoretical concepts to tangible social issues. The participation in Communication for Development further deepened my interest in development communication and how media can be a tool for development.

Where Digital Journalism prepared and sparked in me a love for telling and reporting, I learned real functional skills important to thrive in today’s high-speed digital media, from live reporting with mobile journalism to telling stories with data. My class work enhanced not just my technical skills but also taught the imperative duty of a journalist for integrity, accuracy, and audience engagement.

Besides academics, extracurricular activities and internships have also played an important role in my growing years. While working with ULAB TV, PR4U, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Program, and various outreach programs, I learned how to produce content, manage teams, and work under tight deadlines. Winning awards in digital stories and recognition in these roles further provided grease to my drive for excellence. These experiences have taught me how to balance leadership, creativity, and collaboration while sharpening my organizational and time-management skills.

All along this path, I have had to face and surpass many obstacles. Above all, these real projects, different assignments, and interests in both development and journalism sectors created a fusion that produced an individual with enhanced skills but much more importantly-somebody who is a lot more critical, stronger, and a lot more adaptive as a communicator. I am prepared for the challenges that will be thrown at me in the professional world; confident of finally having the knowledge and experiences that ULAB will be providing, which will become needed in the future.

Indeed, the journey of growth and self-discovery has been transformational. It was this journey that molded me into an assured, skilled, and adaptable media professional who is prepared to face the challenges thrown up by the real world. Now, I feel armed with the needed critical thinking, leadership, and creative skills required to shine in the ever-changing landscape of media and communication.