Blog #1 Emmanuel Sanchez

I have to say that I really enjoyed the presentations in my communications class. I was not expecting to have such a time. Usually I get really anxious when I have to give a speech or presentation. I get nervous and a bit scared when I have to talk in front of people I do not know well. So standing up in front of a room of unfamiliar faces is always a little scary for me. Because of this I usually try to get my part over with quickly as possible sit back down and hope for the best. I was okay with doing the project work but the thought of talking in front of a class of people I was not close with made me nervous.

However working with my group and seeing everyone present changed my mind. It was a rewarding experience that taught me a lot about working together being responsible and how people connect with each other. My group was in charge of presenting Chapter 9 which was about Communicating in Groups. As we prepared I realized that a real group is not a bunch of people thrown together for a grade. It is made up of people who share a goal talk to each other regularly and depend on each other to get things done. We covered some concepts from the textbook, including being close as a team having good rules being accountable and working well together. Being close as a team really stood out to me because it is what keeps a team together. For a group to be healthy and successful members need to feel connected and safe enough to say what they really think even when they disagree.

We also talked about having rules, which are the rules and expectations that keep a group organized. This means being on time staying focused and participating equally. When people do not follow these rules the whole group suffers. I think almost everyone has experienced this at some point in school. In my part of the presentation I talked about the kinds of groups that exist in our everyday lives. These include groups, interest groups, service groups and support groups. I found it really meaningful to look at how these groups bring people from all over the world. Whether it is an interest group that unites people over hobbies like gaming or books a service group that works together for a cause or a support group that provides encouragement and a safe space for people going through tough times it showed me that communication is what keeps us from feeling alone.

I also thought about groups, which are really relevant today because we do a lot of our work online through Zoom text messages and discussion boards. While talking online is convenient the chapter pointed out that conflicts can happen easily because it is hard to understand peoples feelings through a screen. The process of putting our presentation was where we really had to practice what we were learning. My group was like a version of busy student life and everyone was balancing their own heavy workloads and personal responsibilities outside of class. For me my schedule outside of school was really packed during the time of this project. On top of my schoolwork I was taking care of a kitty and spending a lot of my free time teaching my girlfriends little brother how to read.

Juggling those responsibilities at home made it hard to manage my time and I was worried about falling or not doing my best work for the team.. My group was really understanding and patient with everyones individual situations. We talked to each other all the time checking in through texts and emails at all hours of the day and night to keep each other updated. If someone did not understand a part of the chapter or needed help with their slides we worked together to explain things of making anyone feel embarrassed. Because we communicated well we actually experienced the different stages of group development that we were teaching.

We started in the stage moved through a brief stage where we had to work out our differences and finally found our rhythm. Even our slide design reflected this balance. Every member brought their style to their slides yet we worked carefully to combine those unique looks into one polished project. When it was finally time to stand in front of the class I felt okay about the material we had prepared. I was still a little scared. However watching my teammates deliver their parts with much confidence right before me gave me the reassurance I needed. Their support made the environment feel safer and more comfortable.

Because we had built much trust during our preparation I was able to step up speak clearly and feel proud of the work we had done. It was an example of working well together where our combined ideas and mutual support created a final presentation that was much stronger than anything any of us could have done alone. I also enjoyed watching the presentations from the groups. Every team brought an energy and creative approach to the room and I loved seeing how all of our topics connected back to real-life situations that people experience every day.

The first presentation was about Intercultural Communication. It was one of my favorites. They explored how culture influences the way we interact shape relationships and view the world. What made their presentation so memorable was that they did not just read off their PowerPoint or memorize definitions. They analyzed how cultural values are practiced in reality. A part of their presentation that really made me think was their breakdown of communication styles. They explained how some cultures rely heavily on words to get a point across whereas other cultures communicate through subtle cues shared history and "reading between the lines."

It made me realize how easily two people from backgrounds can misinterpret each others intentions even when they are speaking the same language. The group was highly organized, clear and well-prepared speaking entirely in their words, which kept the whole audience interested from beginning to end. The final presentation focused on Group Leadership and Problem Solving which felt really relevant because leadership and decision-making affect everyone. They broke down a step-by-step framework for how groups can identify a problem analyze its root causes develop solutions and choose the option.

I liked learning about this organized process because people often rush into decisions without understanding the problem first. What I appreciated most about this group was their honesty. They did not pretend that teamwork is always easy or enjoyable. They acknowledged that disagreements and poor communication can create a lot of frustration. They emphasized that when a group struggles our first instinct is usually to blame the leader but in reality true accountability and responsibility belong to every member of the team. During their presentation one of their speakers was visibly nervous. Seemed a bit unprepared at first.

I really respected that they pushed through their anxiety and finished their part anyway. Their group stayed supportive creating an environment that helped the presenter find their footing, which was a great display of healthy communication in action. Looking back on the experience presentation day taught me that communication skills are going to be essential for our future careers and relationships. In any profession we will be expected to work with teams made up of people who have different backgrounds, personalities and working styles.

I noticed that the groups who communicated well and practiced together were naturally more confident and you could tell when a team had found its rhythm because the transitions between speakers flowed seamlessly. This project showed me that the things we learn in a textbook are not just definitions to memorize for a grade. They are tools we can use in the real world. Presentation day proved that communication is about much more than just talking. It is about listening, respecting different perspectives solving conflicts and lifting up the people around you. I am really proud of my group and the rest of the class, for putting much effort into making the experience engaging, memorable and eye-opening.