In this series of blog postings, we feature our alumni as they talk about their experience being in the program as well as their unforgettable moments as former XU DevCom students.

Why did you choose DevCom?

The decision was a matter of elimination, as if an algorithm led me to it. Having graduated from high school, I was adamant on studying communication in college primarily because I was inclined to writing, speaking and the like. My parents disapproved of me studying outside the city and XU was our preferred school here; DevCom was the closest course of choice.

Tell us about your experience with the program.

Far from the nature of my current field, DevCom has minimum reading from textbooks and memorizing the technicalities of communication. I learned mainly from doing or creating. It includes talking to people of various background; making a radio program, newsletter, video, and magazine; and organizing events like seminars.

Contrary to the common perception of ‘communication’ simply being writing and speaking, it involves deciphering nonverbal cues; understanding the culture and knowledge of people; listening intently to their message; and simplifying complex topics through different media for the general public.

The sense of accomplishment in seeing an idea become a tangible output or an event is unparalleled, all the more when I know it is more than an academic requirement – it is a means to hone our skills for community development.

What is your current Job?

None. I’m currently a 3rd year medical student at XUJPRSM. Prior to which, I worked as a writer or documenter for several non-government organizations but was not employed formally to a company or institution.

Are you using what you learned in college?

Some concepts I learned in DevCom are significantly relevant in medicine which is both an art and science – communication forming a bulk of the former. For one, translating jargon to laymen’s term is crucial to patient education. A tenet in communication: how you say it is as important as what you say. Given that medical help has unfortunately become more of a privilege than a right, understanding the people’s level of knowledge and attitude to health and medicine is vital to better their quality of life. Constant immersion outside the comforts of the academe reminds me that people should be empowered and educated to improve rather than be passive beneficiaries. DevCom influences where and how I plan to practice medicine. Needless to say, albeit far from being an ideal pre-med course, it is complementary to medicine. Would you recommend studying DevCom? Of course. It is among the most flexible courses as its theory and application are important in most, if not all, fields.

Just because it is often perceived as an “easy” course without the conventional academic rigour doesn’t mean learning is lacking. I believe it is a way of hitting that perfect Venn diagram for a career: an intersection between excelling at a profession and using skills for the common good.