Colby Windham. Communication: Broadcast and Digital Journalism

Hi, I’m Colby Windham. I’m a senior Communcation major with a concentration in Broadcast and Digital Journalism. I’m originally from Clarksville, Tennessee. After a long road, I’m finally nearing the end of my time here. I’ve been at Mississippi State for 6 years now, and finally I think I’m ready to say I’m more than excited to graduate. With less than full-time hours left the future is looking closer and brighter than before. For me, I think I can say that I've finally found my home at Mississippi State within the Communication Department and I'm more than excited for not only this final semester but the future to come as well.

I chose Broadcast and Digital Journalism after quite a few major changes. When I first came to college, I wasn’t really sure of anything I enjoyed. I knew just basic things I’d done and been “just ok” with especially since I had little experience with anything coming from high school. I tried out education, history, graphic design, and even biological science as it was what I was “good” at. But after many stressful nights of just wanting something I would enjoy I went to various departments and asked questions, wanting to know what a career in each looked like. The things that people usually would say they enjoy about the major, etc. I can remember listening to Mrs.Crouch at the time explain and walk me through a Communication degree and I found myself truly interested in what she explained to me. When it was time to decide on a concentration, She showed me the different types of coursework between Print and Broadcasting and I felt myself drawn to something “seeable” rather than “readable”. Looking back it was one of my greatest decisions I’ve made in my time here.

For me that decision came down to a personal philosophy I have. People are visual creatures. I really took to heart the idea that broadcasting was all about turning what people should know into something they could watch and see with their own eyes. While I struggle heavily with things such as video or photography, It’s become nearly a passion. I want to write stories and get information out to people because “knowing” is the key to success, I’ve actually gotten closer with the idea of what goes on that turns just words into broadcasts even.

I’ve done a lot of projects for classes, but between in my advanced TV production and now just this last week for take 30. I really love actually being a part of making the news happen. I’m not a big fan of reporting or being talent but whether it be in the control room or some other behind-the-scenes thing I’ve really enjoyed it and looked for to it. I think the big thing for me is putting it all together, like a big jigsaw puzzle, and seeing it together as one thing really makes my day.

My biggest strength I think is planning and writing. It lets me keep to myself and just think out what I want the final product to look like. Instead of breaking everything down, I can see what I want to say or show and make it happen in little steps. It removes a lot of stress for me. And helps me keep a cool head as I work through things. Weaknesses though, I struggle a lot with video and photography. I don’t have the eye for aesthetics for the ability to easily think about what goes with something I want to say properly. There’s nuance that I struggle heavily with and it holds me back in some aspects.

This class for me, is something I’m hoping maybe I can observe and see the “right” fits for words and stories. Perhaps learn how to break down those nuances, and I want to leave the class with more understanding of the nuance behind it. I’d love to leave the class understanding more how the pieces fit together and how with extra effort things can just turn out much more complete.

After school, I’m not sure what I want to do. I struggle a lot with decisions like that. I’m hopeful that I’ll find something that really fits with me. Whether that be in my major or not. I’ve also done a lot of thought about regardless what I end up doing I want to write stories, fiction or otherwise. It could be a nice job but it could be pretty rough so perhaps even as a hobby.

I know other things like hobbies-wise I’ve thought about turning into actual work one day. I’ve tested out graphic design and I still really enjoy that. Another thing that even my parents have said would be interesting is that I’ve always had a knack for 3D modeling and as we progress towards the future, it could be something I enjoy later in life. Other “job” hobbies I’ve thought about is that I may not be the best at but other forms of art like drawing are all things I really enjoy. I just don’t have much faith in myself for the future.

I think that overall I’m pretty inexperienced in most things. I’ve mostly only experienced things that were tied to little bursts of interest I’ve had or through classes. It’s more than possible something like photography or videography could become more interesting to me and it just hasn’t happened yet. Through classes, I’ve found things interesting, like audio. I understand a bit of it but it’s never been a focus of mine. I think I’m overall just curious but unsure what I actually want to do in almost everything.

I live by the phrase “Take it as it comes” and in most cases it’s been fine. But even assignments like this I realize that I struggle a bit because there’s nothing of depth there. That’s another thing I think I want to get in this class or elsewhere, I want to actually understand something that I can enjoy on many occasions and not just somewhat anymore. I think that right now while it works, it’s left me kind of “just ok” at many things.

Email me at cjw743@msstate.edu with any questions