Portfolio Essay

 Communication Portfolio Essay

My name is Carli Greco and I am a recent 2020 December from the University of Tampa. Born and raised in Manorville, New York, I came to Tampa looking for new opportunities and memorable experiences. I accepted my offer to attend this school without even touring it, and, ever since I took my first steps on campus, I knew Tampa would be my new home. Like most freshmen, a change in environment and being away from my family was a struggle at first. However, one thing I did not struggle with was choosing a major because I've always had one career path in mind. This ultimately led me to become a Communication major and public relations minor with hopes of pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. This dream of mine goes back to when I was a little girl, when my love for the industry first started.

My passion for the entertainment industry began at a very young age after traveling with my family while my dad worked for the New York Mets for 25 years. Although this journey of mine began with sports, it quickly shifted to a specific interest in the music industry when I attended my first concert at the age of seven. To this day, I have been to over 200 concerts all over the United States. These concerts have not only brought me endless memories, but also real world experiences that I have brought into my studies at The University of Tampa. Experiencing these moments has allowed me to not only enjoy the music, but to also pay close attention to details of the action that happens behind the scenes at these events. I have been able to factor in these experiences when taking my classes here in Tampa, and they have motivated me to want to learn more about the field of study. I believe that my prior experiences, as well as my four years of education at The University of Tampa, has greatly prepared me for life after college. I have met many influential people and professors from my studies, but I especially have gratitude towards two professors, Professor Joseph Wisinski and Professor Haley DeLeon who have both shown me areas of the communication field I never thought I would be interested in. I took Media Writing (COM 225) with Professor Wisinski which taught me how to write news stories, press releases, and various elements of broadcast media. This class opened my eyes to the news aspect of the communication field, which I had no prior interest in. I also took Writing for Public Relations(COM 384) with Professor DeLeon which ultimately led me to find my minor of public relations. In this class, I was able to learn how to compile a media kit, as well as write pitch letters, media advisories, and fact sheets. Both classes led me to new found potential I did not know I had, and encouraged me to consider applying for other positions in the future. All in all, I have learned skills I never thought I would understand, from exploring digital media softwares, to creating my own websites and YouTube channel. Although there were a lot of tears, challenges, and low points throughout my studies, the challenges have been extremely rewarding.

For my media sample, I have decided to proudly display my digital media portfolio from FMX 210 with Professor Santiago Echeverry. For the assignment, we were instructed to represent ourselves throughout the portfolio with fonts and colors unique to our personalities, all while describing and representing our projects. I have decided to include this piece, which I created in May 2020, because FMX 210 was by far the most challenging course I have taken in college. My digital media portfolio is a representation of all the hard work and time I put into this class, and has allowed me to gain an understanding of digital tools that can be helpful for my future. On the first day I took this class, I never thought  I would walk back in because I thought it would be too difficult. As it was a requirement for my degree, I stuck with it, and I am so glad I did. Although it did not specifically coincide with what I wanted to do in the future, it taught me skills I think will be useful in my career. This class has taught me how to code with Adobe Dreamweaver, and how to use other Adobe softwares such as Photoshop and Illustrator. With these softwares, I have learned to create a logo, as well as an animation that can be useful for the advertising side of the communication field. After taking this class, I am confident in my abilities to use these softwares if needed in my future job, and I have found an appreciation for the advertising and design aspect of this degree. I took this course in the spring of 2020, which was partially online due to the COVID-19 pandemic which made it such a challenge. I was forced to learn how to use these softwares through tutorials my professor provided, without face-to-face knowledge. After a lot of stress and tears, I finished the class with an A and a better understanding of the digital world which I hope to use in my future career. I have not only learned new techniques, but have also found new potentials that pushed my limits.

Before attending the University of Tampa, I thought I knew my strengths and weaknesses. I knew that I was a hard worker, a team player, and a learner. I also knew that I wasn't the best at writing papers, utilizing and understanding digital tools and softwares, and public speaking. As it turns out, many of my weaknesses have become strengths, and I owe most of that to my classes and professors. After graduation, I plan to take these skills and apply for multiple internships in Tampa, possibly at the Amalie Arena or the Florida State Fairgrounds in hopes of working with event planning. In a few years, I hope to be working at a record label in New York or California, specifically at Island Records which is my dream job. Although I still have a lot more to learn, I can honestly say that the University of Tampa has prepared me for my future, and I am looking forward to continue to grow as a person and learner.