Professional Communication
Hey everyone!
Welcome to my Capstone Professional Communication Seminar Blog!
My name is Olivia Rocha, I am a recent graduate at Siena Heights University with a bachelors degree in Professional Communication. orocha@sienaheights.edu I graduated on the grounds of the university on May 3rd, 2025. As I embark on a new chapter following professionalism towards my degree, I am encouraged to look back on projects, assignments, and classes that helped me achieve my goals and pursue my bachelors degree.
Early on in deciding what degree I wanted to major in, I took a class called Intercultural Communication at Lansing Community College. This course explored how culture influences communication style, and how to navigate all forms of interactions/communication across different cultures. The premise of this class inspired me in the communication field, and kept me very focused. Ultimately, my semester in intercultural communication was what introduced me to how vital communication is, which in turn, helped my decision to pursue a degree in professional communication.
Below is a sample piece from an interview I conducted for my Intercultural Communication class at Lansing Community College.
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Intercultural Communication - Intercultural Interview
As time went on at Lansing Community College, I took various classes that were still centered around communication. Some of these classes included:
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Fundamental Public Speaking: COMM 130 - Summer 2021
Principles of Management/Leadership: MGMT 225 - Spring 2022
Diversity in the Workplace: MGMT 234 - Summer 2022
Design and Communication: ARTS 102 - Summer 2022
Dynamics of Communication: COMM 120: Fall 2022
Interpersonal Communication: COMM 240: Spring 2022
Mass Communication: COMM 270 - Spring 2023
Technical Writing: ENG 124 - Summer 2023
Introduction to Advertising: MKTG 140 - Summer 2023
Nonverbal Communication: COMM 260 - Fall 2023
There is no denying I was on track to having a degree in professional communication based in the classes I was taking. These communication classes were informative, thought provoking, and heavily showcased real world scenarios through assignments and material I obtained. I was able to take material from all of these classes and transfer it to my job, how I interacted with others, and even how I began to view the world. These classes showed me how vital communication is in all settings of our lives!
Fundamental Public Speaking: Comm 130 taught me to look at speeches as a way to express our thoughts, opinions, and even arguments.
Principles of Management/Leadership: MGMT 225 taught me how to be a leader at work.
Diversity in the Workplace: MGMT 234 taught me that workplaces are complex, but when we understand each other, we can better and properly operate as a group.
Design and Communication: COMM 270 taught me how to express communication in an artful manner.
Dynamics in Communication COMM 120 taught me that every person in every setting wants to be understood and heard.
Interpersonal Communication: COMM 240 taught me how to navigate others in an interpersonal way. This helped at my job.
Mass Communication: COMM 270 taught me about the roots of digital communication plus how much we rely on digital media today.
Technical Writing: ENG 124 taught me how to properly format all forms of professional digital communication. This has helped as I apply for jobs.
Introduction to Advertising: MKTG 140 taught me that the most complex way seller get consumers to but is with top of the line advertising.
Nonverbal Communication: COMM 260 taught me that all forms of communication are vert vital, even the forms where no words are said at all.
Below are a couple of real world assignments I had the pleasure of conducting through my communication courses at Lansing Community College.
These are assignments from the following courses:
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Self -Assessment Speech (Fundamental Public Speaking)
Communication PDF (Interpersonal Communication)
Kids Dynamics of Communication Book (Dynamics of Communication)
Essay - Rational Kids Book (Dynamics of Communication)
The communication classes I took were very up to date with the way in which our world communicates today, especially digitally. Although, there was one class that highlighted parts of historical digital communication. The class was my Mass Communication class at Lansing Community College.
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Essay - Telecommunications Act 1996 (Mass Communication)
Essay - The Golden Age of News (Mass Communication)
These classes taught me the importance of where our digital communication began, a how it has transformed today, and where our digital communication may be in the years to come.
One of my favorite courses I took at Lansing Community College was Technical Writing. I did not realize how important and useful this class would be. I credit my better understanding of forming Emails, Memos, Analytical Reports, and so on to this course.
These are some assignments from my Technical Writing class at Lansing Community College:
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Analytical Report - Feasibility Analysis
My advertising class at Lansing Community College was one of the courses that gave me a better understanding on how communication and advertising go hand in hand. I also began to better understand what my manager goes through as he is the sole provider in our digital advertising.
This is one assignments from my Introduction to Advertising class at Lansing Community College:
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Mock Media Press Kit - Crumbl Cookie Company
As I began to finish my time at Lansing Community College, I knew I was on to the next step - transferring to Siena Heights University.
At Siena Heights University, I was eager to take even more classes for my degree in professional communication. Additionally, this was where I was going to get my bachelors degree which made me very excited.
At Siena Heights, I took an array of courses towards professional communication.
These are the courses that helped obtain my degree.
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Living the Liberal Arts: LAS33-OD - Aubrey M. Crosby - 2024 Winter 1st
Technology/Human Condition: PHI329-OP - Mike Winstrom - 2024 Winter 2nd
Professional Speaking: PCM340-OA - Dr. Mary Antonaros Raymond - 2024 Summer 1st
Conflict Resolution: SOC350-OA - Jeanne Doonan - 2024 Summer 2nd
Business Ethics: BAM311-OC - DeMarquis R. Battle - 2024 Fall 1st
Managerial Communications: BAM441-OH - Dr. Mary Antonaros Raymond - 2024 Fall 2nd
Stress Management: PSY325-OG - Cande Rutherford - 2025 Winter 2nd
Liberal Arts Capstone: LAS4430-OA - David "Max" Maxfield - 2025 Summer 1st
Professional Communication Seminar: PCM495-OA - Dr. Mary Antonaros Raymond - 2025 Summer 2nd
The classes listed above were unique and valuable in their own way. I was able to take concepts from each class and transfer them as new skills to my next class. Material from Conflict Resolution helped me with my work in my Stress Management class. My Living the Liberal Arts class set a great foundation for my Technology and Human Condition class.
Through these classes, I had assignments that helped me critically think and share logical knowledge with fellow classmates.
Living the liberal Arts: LAS33-OD taught me about the school I was graduating from, as well as liberal arts being one of the best forms of education.
Technology and Human Condition: PHI329-OP taught me about critically thinking in the digital age that we are in, and how it is affecting human condition and connection.
Professional Speaking: PCM340-OA taught me that raising your voice with words that are insightful, meaningful, and informative matter.
Conflict Resolution: SOC350-OA taught me that not all conflicts have to have a negative start or a negative ending. Conflict is another form of communication we all face.
Business Ethics: BAM311-OC taught me that ethical business practices is really the best form to take when tackling the business world.
Managerial Communications: BAM441-OH taught me that management and communication are terms that need to positively coexist in order to be successful together.
Stress Management: PSY325-OG taught me that stress is a normal function that all humans experience. It is how we handle the stress that looks different for everyone but surely is what we need to pay the most attention to.
Liberal Arts Capstone: LAS4430-OA taught me that history has a definite way of repeating itself. If we do not learn the first time, we may get stuck the second time.
Professional Communication Seminar: PCM495-OA taught me that communication is key in all forms of life. People, jobs, professions, family, media, all depend on communication. It is one of the most vital skills to adhere.
This is an array of random assignments from various courses I took throughout my time at Siena Heights University:
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Reflective Essay - Exploring Dominican Values at Siena Heights University (Living the Liberal Arts)
Essay - Standard of Living (Technology/Human Condition)
Analysis - Conflict Style Assessment (Conflict Resolution)
Final Essay - "As CEO" - Business Ethics (Business Ethics)
PowerPoint - "As CEO" (Business Ethics)
Leadership and Conflict (Managerial Communication)
One of the skills I am most proud of from my academic journey is my public speaking skill. I can confidently say that my speech classes through both Lansing Community College and Siena Heights University made me better understand how important public speaking is, and just how often we use it in all settings of communication.
Below are a few speeches I had the privilege of leading and conducting with my Professional Speaking class at Siena Heights University.
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Speech - A Career in Social Media Management (Professional Speaking)
Speech - Technology in Communcation (Professional Speaking)
Pamphlet - Technology in Communication (Professional Speaking)
My academic journey is one that has been highly rewarding, but like so many students, I have had many moments of doubt and stress. There were many times I felt like giving up, but I have had too many goals and scenarios in my head that I knew I wanted to see become reality.
As I close this chapter here at Siena Heights, I am both grateful and excited. I am so proud at all I have accomplished while eagerly waiting to see what more I can pursue now that my academics are complete.
I thank you for viewing my Professional Communications Capstone Seminar blog!
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