MCOM258 Final Exam

2-year-old yellow labrador retriever, Charlie. Picture provided by J. Atwater, Towson University.

Like many dog owners, Julia Watrous swears by the new BARF diet for her yellow labrador retriever. Listen to the audio story here.

For All the Lost Little Fish…

Students seeking an alternative educational experience or simply looking to shake things up a bit often look towards exchange programs to fill the void. However, although an exchange program can be a great opportunity to learn new things as current exchange student, Guadalupe “Pita” Rosales would say, it is important to understand that exchange programs are not for everyone.

Exchange Program Offers Invaluable Experiences

With less than 30 participants, exchange students make up a tiny fraction of the current student body at Towson University. However, one of the select few, exchange student, Kathy Staats from University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, believes everyone should take advantage of exchange programs because they are be priceless opportunities.

A Season to Remember

Rosales smiles before her last rugby game of the season. Photo by Elizabeth Lubuag, Towson University.

National exchange student and Deaf Studies major, Guadalupe “Pita” Rosales makes the most of her attendance at Towson University by accomplishing something she’s wanted to do for years: play rugby. Although her stay in Maryland is temporary, the memories of an unforgettable semester and season stay with her forever.

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Nonlinear Assignment Strategy

For my nonlinear story, I want to write the two extra articles first and then gather all my stories together. I’m thinking of writing a “how-to” article explaining how to participate in NSE. I want my other story to be about moving out or going back home. My audio story is all set.

As far as my FAQs page, I’ll need to come up with questions about my beat, but that should be fairly easy. I think the hardest part for me will be setting up the navigation on my page correctly. Also, I plan on doing some extra credit. I am thinking about doing a Google Map or extra article, possibly with video footage.

I think the Google Map would be interesting to make and it would also be very useful to readers and people or exchange students that are new to Towson University. There’s actually a lot of things I could do.

Profile Slideshow Ideas

For my profile slideshow, I considered not only national exchange students, but also program coordinators and advisors. However, I’ve decided that most of the students and staff alike are fairly average, that is, except for Guadalupe Rosales.

Editing Strategies

Segment from the National Geographic Channel. Retrieved from YouTube.com.

In a video segment of National Geographic Channel’s, “Looking for the Afghan Girl,” several key video editing strategies are used to create a compelling news story about a reporter’s journey to find an unnamed Afghan girl photographed for the cover of a National Geographic magazine thirty years later.

Language Impacts Exchange Students

Exchange students Elise Euphrat (left) and Janna Fernandez (right) talk about their differences in communication. / Photo by Elizabeth Lubuag. Towson University.

Exchange students at Towson University discover the importance of accommodating different communication styles in order to lessen language barriers that can hinder exchange experiences.

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Audio Story Brainstorm

My idea for the audio story is to get a few exchange students and have them discuss how we all talk and say things differently although we’re all speaking the same language.

I would then relate and have them discuss how their student exchange experience has broadened their cultural and world view, how it has helped them become more aware of other cultures and identities as a global citizen and just how it is beneficial for students today to have these kinds of cultural experiences.

Pita Rosales, Exchange Student

Rolling out of bed around 7 a.m., after but one push of the “snooze” button on her alarm, Guadalupe Rosales, 20, gets dressed, uses the bathroom and prepares for school. She grabs a light breakfast, usually a bowl of cereal or oatmeal, then brushes her teeth, puts on a jacket and heads to class, giving herself at least 30 minutes to walk from her Towson Run apartment to campus.

Exchange student, Guadalupe "Pita" Rosales. / Photo by Elizabeth Lubuag. Towson University

This is a usual morning for Guadalupe Rosales.
Although her schedule is one to which many students can relate, Pita is not your average college student or your average Towson Tiger.