Preliminary Reflection Paper STA 446 After my boarding school experience, I knew that I would gain a unique transition to college because I was already an independent, confident individual. This perspective has allowed me to delve deeper into my undergraduate study and consider the parallels to my developing global viewpoint. As a communications major and a religious studies minor, a lot of my daily studies relate directly to real world application. The most significant aspects of these studies are the writing skills and reading materials that I have learned over the past two years. For me, writing is one of the most important skills that an individual can master; and for my future profession it is an invaluable trait. As I continue on the path of public relations, I have also learned that reading the news is a key feature of keeping up with the world and the profession. This is now something that I cant go a day without doing. One distinctive connection between my religion classes and communication classes is the real world experience that was added into the course syllabus. For my Hinduism class, we traveled to a temple in Cary to observe a sacred ceremony with the locals of the town. For my media writing class, we acted as journalists on several accounts and interviewed students around campus. Both of these experiences forced me to step outside my comfort zone and look beyond my own personal perspectives so I could learn from the strangers I encountered. This enabled me to strengthen my communication and listening skills in order to gain the material and understanding of the assignment. When I think about the foundations of this GST Capstone, I hope to explore how music has influenced the media and the popular artists of todays society. Looking into how history has created a foundation for the future is something that several of my classes have examined. Everything that we understand and know in the modern world was created or influenced by something long ago, and I think that there is a large connection between eighteenth century composers and modern day musicians. Music is also a universal phenomenon that every nation, ethnicity, and individual can relate to. There is no requirement in order to understand, love, and enjoy the sound of a melody, and for this music possesses a special power in society. As a primary lens through which this course examines content, I am eager to learn the
effects of music in society both now, and back in the nineteenth
century. Outside of my main studies, I am also interested in photography and fashion. I have always had an imaginative mind and a love for using that creativity whenever possible. This character trait is something that drew me to the course, because Austria is a country rich with culture and creativity. Music without a doubt is a part of the arts and continues to be a way for people to express themselves. All of these traits are interconnected because they allow individuals to create their own path. Music is also something that I have not had to chance to study in depth, although it has always been a part of my life. My father has a passion for music and when I was little I would often wake up to him playing the piano. I know that by the end of this course and our trip in Austria I will have a stronger connection with music because I will understand the influence it has had in society over the past 400 years.