#LifeasaJStudent Blog

SOJC students showcase what it's like to be a student with personal stories about their experiential learning adventures in their own words, photos, and videos.

Story by Carl SegerstromPhotos by Aaron Nelson 
Story and photo by Emily TorresAs students of the UO School of Journalism and Communication, we pride ourselves on the level of preparedness our professors and peers have instilled in us, and these skills give us the confidence we need to go out and launch our careers after graduation. No matter what area of study our emphasis is in — journalism, public relations, advertising or media studies — we all are here to learn how to take our storytelling to the next level.
Story and photos by Margaret ConnorsThe experiences I’ve gained in a cross-cultural workplace and living abroad have contributed immensely to my personal growth and development, but it seems impossible to sum up the greatest part of my journeys. When I am asked what the most memorable part of my experience living abroad was, it either sparks a 10-minute conversation consisting of me pouring my heart out about my love for South Africa, or the short and sweet version: “There’s so much to tell, I don’t know where to begin.”
Story by Amanda LinaresPhotos courtesy of Amanda Linares
Story and photos by Angelina HessIn 2016 post-apartheid Cape Town, college students protest for access to decolonized university while women fight for their right to sexual education and contraceptives. Township-born Capetonians drive Ubers, bringing white residents to their beachfront multi-story flats by day, only to go to a one-room shanty they share with three other families by night. Congested highways dissect the stunning landscape into visible segregation, while nepotism pervades the South African Parliament. 
SOJC student Shirley Chan jumps for joy at the Essaouira Ramparts, where a few episodes of season three of “Game of Thrones” were filmed. Story and photos by Shirley Chan“What was it like being in a Muslim country?”
The SOJC Sri Lanka crew goes on safari in Minneriya National Park. From left to right: Andie Tenoso, Key Higdon, Jake Sandor, Delaney Engle (shooting the camera) and Judd Smith.Editor's note: This is the first in a series of two blog posts written by students who traveled to Sri Lanka in December 2016 with the UO SOJC. Stay tuned for the second post in the series, by Angelina Hess, later this month. Story and photos by Meerah Powell
Editor's note: This post is the second in a series of two student blog posts about the 2017 Association of Alternative Newsmedia Digital Conference held in January in Portland, Oregon. For more information, read the first post in the series, "Damian Radcliffe talks trust in media at AAN conference" by Kenny Jacoby.