Jaylon Warren
Table of Contents
Reflection
Resume
Artifacts
Reflection
Communication Across Life’s Different Spaces
Studying Communication and Media Studies at St. Norbert College has shown me there’s a lot more to communication than just talking. It’s really about connecting with people, reading the room, and knowing how to shift your message depending on who you’re dealing with. As I worked through my classes, I started to notice these changes, both in how I think and how I interact with others. I’ve picked up skills in persuasion, breaking down what makes the media tick, speaking in front of a crowd, and just talking one-on-one. Courses like Interpersonal Communication and Conflict Communication pushed me to get better at handling relationships and navigating tough conversations. Meanwhile, classes like Mass Media, Media Psychology, and Sports Media opened my eyes to how much media shapes what people think and feel.
When I took Persuasion and Public Relations, I learned how to put together messages that actually sway people. That’s a big deal for me since I want to go into sales. All these experiences built up my ability to connect, influence, and make my voice heard skills I know will serve me well in my career. I’ve always been drawn to Communication because it’s so deeply tied to real life. I dug into big questions like how the media shapes our world and how people respond to different messages. Once I got into it, what really stood out was how much personal beliefs and values steer our reactions to the media.
My Mass Media and Media Psychology classes made this even clearer. People don’t just absorb messages they break them down, filter everything through their own experiences. And honestly, seeing how passionate folks get on social media didn’t shock me. People have strong opinions, especially when big issues come up. What really opened my eyes, though, were the theories explaining why these reactions happen and how the media can push people to see things differently or, sometimes, just reinforce what they already think.
Football changed me outside the classroom just as much as my classes did. Being on a team taught me discipline and leadership in a way nothing else could. You really learn how to communicate when all are sweating, the clock’s running out, and no one wants to lose. I’ll never forget this one game where we were behind, tensions high, and someone had to pull us together. I actually drew on what I’d learned in my Interpersonal Communication class just staying clear and positive, making sure everyone understood the plan and felt heard. The ideas from my Conflict Communication course definitely helped too. Frustration builds fast when the game gets rough, and I figured out how to steer us back to the goal instead of letting us turn on each other.
Those moments showed me how communication really works when it matters most not just as a theory, but as something that can pull people together or tear them apart depending on how you handle it. It made me see just how much leadership is about listening and focusing people’s energy.
Now, as I look ahead to my career, I’m set on working at TQL Logistics, a third-party logistics broker. Communication matters there just as much building trust with clients, closing deals, addressing issues as they arise. Everything I studied helped get me ready for those moments. I know how to change up my style depending on who I’m talking to, think critically about what’s being said, and keep relationships strong even under pressure. Studying Communication and Media Studies didn’t just check an academic box for me .it gave me more confidence, made me adaptable, and helped me understand just how much good communication can change both your personal and professional life.
Resume
Artifacts
Reactance Theory – I wanted to break down the theory and show how it fits into things like persuasive messaging and advertising. So, I pulled in real-world examples and made sure my explanations weren’t too dry or complicated. My audience was professor Glantz and classmates, so I kept it relevant for them. I learned a lot about how people push back against certain persuasive tactics which honestly, really matters in sales because you need to convince people without turning them off. This artifact shows learning outcome #1
Pr Pitch
For my Introduction to Public Relations class, I put together a PR pitch using specific communication techniques. The goal was to design a campaign that actually reached a target audience with the right kind of messaging. I focused on how things like media channels and the tone of the message can change the way people react. Even though I was presenting to professor Glantz and classmates, I approached it like I was pitching to a real client. Working through this assignment helped me think more strategically about communication, which really matters when you’re trying to build relationships and influence decisions at work. #1
Communication Inquiry
For my final project in Communication Inquiry, I took a deep dive into a communication problem using academic research. I dug through studies and relied on social scientific research methods to back up my arguments. Dr Antos was my audience, and the whole point was to prove I could handle and analyze communication research on my own. After finishing this project, I feel much more confident about breaking down data and seeing how research actually plays out in real-world communication situations. This artifact shows learning outcome #3
Coverage of Black Quarterbacks
This project analyzing racial inequality in sports media coverage of NFL quarterbacks was created for my Communication and Media Studies course. I concentrated on how the media portrays Black and white quarterbacks differently and how words have the power to influence public opinion. I discussed how fans’ and society’s perceptions of athletes might be influenced by media framing and stereotypes. Dr. Glantz and my classmates were my audience. I became more aware of the language used in sports media and how communication may sway people’s opinions without their knowledge as a result of working on this project. This item demonstrates learning outcome #3.
Player coach conflict
In this study, I looked at why conflicts happen things like emotional reactions, power struggles, and just plain bad communication. I dug into ways to manage and resolve these issues, too. My main audience is Dr. Antos other students. Honestly, this assignment meant a lot to me, especially with my football background. I could really connect what we learned in class to real moments on a team. It made me better at understanding and dealing with disagreements, both on the field and off. This artifact shows learning outcome #2
Deliverables
I put together materials for this project that needed to be clear, well-structured, and easy to understand. The whole point was to share information that actually works in a business setting. I really focused on what the audience needed, how everything was organized, and making sure my message made sense. Even though Dr. Smith and classmates were the main people I was talking to, the project felt real like something you’d do on the job. This whole experience sharpened my communication skills, which are key if you want to work in sales or business. This artifact shows learning outcome #3
Theory of motivated information management
I just wrapped up a presentation on the Theory of Motivated Information Management. Basically, this theory explains how people decide when to look for information and when to avoid it, especially when emotions run high or things feel uncertain. I looked at how this plays out in relationships and the choices people make. I tried to keep everything clear and easy to follow, but still packed with good info. Working on this really sharpened my grasp on how people process information, which is useful not only in personal life but also on the job like in sales. The audience was in front of classmates and Dr. Antos. This artifact shows learning outcome #1
Football and Leadership
I wrapped up my talk on how football builds leadership and teamwork by tying communication principles to my own time on the field. The whole point of the project was to show that good communication isn’t just helpful, it’s the glue that holds teams together and shapes strong leaders. I used real stories from my football days to back that up. Doing this research, I got to mix what I learned in school with what I actually went through in games. It really showed how the ways we learn to communicate in sports can help us succeed once we’re out in the real world, especially at work. My audience for this presentation was Dr. Arendt and classmates. This artifact shows learning outcome #2