Over 150 Grambling State University students attended the mass communication student workshop held this last Wednesday. The program was presented from the media management graduate students of the mass communication department.
The workshop was crafted for students to be able to excel in their collegiate careers.
It was open to not only mass communication students but to all majors.
The topics discussed by the guest speakers were ‘The Power of Discipline,’ ‘The Power of Writing,’ ‘The Power of Internship’ and ‘The Power of Technology.’
Master Sgt. Robert Williams with the GSU ROTC spoke about discipline and self-control.
Reporter Brianna Arrington from the Ruston Daily Leader and Dr. Hugh Wilson, a professor in the English Department, both orated the depths of why being able to write is important.
Executive Director of the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation of Northeast Louisiana, as well as Tracy Wright, director of communications at GSU, discussed the importance of internships and asking questions.
“I was very pleased with my student’s efforts and hard work put into this program,” said Dr. Parvin Lalehparvaran, professor and instructor for the mass communication graduate media campaigns class.
“Each student played a very big part in each aspect of the events for the program.”
The students gathered the speakers themselves, called businesses to sponsor and cater the event, and selected the topics they felt GSU students needed.
Lalehparvaran’s idea for the workshop was exceeded by the actual turnout of the student body.
“Most effective (subject) was the topic on ‘The Power of Discipline,’” she said. “My students and I both believe that Grambling students must understand that in order to exceed in life one must grasp self-control.”
“I learned everything we do and say is considered self-discipline. You must work with a common goal in mind and remain mentally focused,” said Michael Darren Thomas Jr.
“Another thing I gathered from the workshop was that we tend to take it for granted that we have the ability to read, write and think. During slavery, our ancestors weren’t able to read and write, yet alone think.”
Thomas is a graduating senior with a public relations concentration in the Mass Communication Department from Baton Rouge.
Many students like Thomas were also charged by the history and motivation given by Dr. Wilson, a native of Chicago.
“Knowledge is power and writing is something larger for Black people. Reading, writing, thinking,” said Dr. Wilson.
Dr. Lalehparvaran was very pleased with the turnout of the event and plans to make the event an annual program in the future.