NO parties or crossing the stage in academic regalia.
No loud cheers from the crowds and no in-person graduation thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Instead, a virtual graduation ceremony under the theme Ready for a changing world truly reflected the current effects of the global crisis.
Last month, COSTAATT’s City Campus in Port of Spain, came alive with the sound of music, as representatives from each school walked down the aisle dressed in academic regalia, together with stakeholders and other key officials.
Students, though celebrating individually with their families, were still stranded to the sounds of the college’s bands and words of encouragement from each official as we awaited our names and degrees to be called.
I now stand as a proud graduate with my fellow 600 graduates and more importantly, an Alma Mater of the Ken Gordon School of Journalism and Communication Studies (SOJACS).
One and only – COSTAATT- SOJACS
Why COSTAATT some asked?
Well, as a visual learner, their small classes gave me the individual attention needed to excel and grasp the materials. Numbers were never my friends, but words always melted my heart and I enjoyed a good story.
Just a girl with an active imagination and a scrapbook full of stories prompted a desire to share my stories with the world and such it directed my path to SOJACS.
Firstly, with the Associate Degree in Journalism and Public Relations followed by studies in Mass Communication in 2018.
I believed I far excelled in tertiary level education than secondary school.
A Mass Communication degree is full of opportunity as it exposes one to different career options, especially for those that despise the usual nine to five.
So, you could never be bored, well I was not.
COSTAATT has afforded me both theory and practical experiences from the best media and PR professionals. My degree also enhanced my creativity, renewed my self-confidence, kicked some of my timidness out and developed analytical and critical thinking skills.
An introvert, I never liked crowds which made networking a difficult task but I promise to try harder for the New Year.
Challenges as a student
Feelings of failure and rejection hung over my head, yet, I could not understand as school was fairly manageable with good grades.
Yet I broke down which began to affect my self-esteem and this led me to procrastinate with assignments which I never did before.
No foyer to sit and relax or friends to meet up before class. Now class began and ended at home – online and behind a screen.
This made my attention span drop, as I often got caught up in household affairs. I missed a change in environment, walking up Mucurapo Street or the occasional trip to Knocker’s Sports Bar & Lounge.
Enter the intervention of God who reminded me of my vision to help and inspire others through words. I wrestled with myself, back into the right attitude to continue the race.
And slowly, my zeal returned and then my workload became lighter, as I learned to let go and let God.
Graduation in a pandemic
Rush, Confusion and heart wrenching is what I would describe as graduation in this Covid-19 pandemic.
Yet, I am thankful to be alive in a time when so many people have lost their lives from Covid-19.
Our transition period clashed with a dark cloud that held the earth ransom since 2020.
In addition, the long waiting periods to get a confirmation for graduation created anxiety, especially when other university students posted their graduation photos.
I prayed and cried as I began to overthink.
Then, one day, the confirmation finally showed up in my student inbox with less than three days to prepare for the moment I anticipated for three years.
It was a complete rush, from hair to make-up but thank God, I had a “little” black dress due to my previous image, etiquette and protocol course in college which saved my skin.
Mixed emotion, excitement and disappointment. I regret not being able to walk across the stage to show others with self-doubt, that it does not matter where they come from but anything is possible with God and hard work.
However, I understand the seriousness of the Covid-19 pandemic but graduation at any level is a rite of passage, a celebration of one’s accomplishments.
Some may feel that I am selfish, but COSTAATT should have placed more effort into the execution and planning of the 2021 graduation photoshoot.
Yet, I know that every organisation and its people felt the dire strain associated with Covid.
Students at the South Campus got one day for their photos, while Campuses in Port of Spain and Chaguanas received two days.
Photo day
On arrival at the South Campus, I followed all Covid-19 protocols, paid for my package and proceeded to get dressed with help from officials.
Inside the photo room, I met fellow graduates from the Nursing and Marketing Departments but only two from SOJACS at that time.
The photographers were quite professional in assisting students to capture that big smile which would be the highlight and the end of our journey.
The shoot lasted five minutes, however, we had a backdrop with the COSTAAT’s logo to take our portraits yet the lighting wasn’t the best but I made it work.
I made it and told myself, “Be thankful for life because a couple of months could have been your last.”
Upon completion, we had to immediately return the gowns, hood and tassels. This surprised me because I thought we would be able to go to the foyer to take some additional photos.
Reality check!
We were not allowed to leave the hall with the gowns, (the foyer is upstairs on level two). So, for three years and for some even more, we received a few minutes in full academic regalia.
I laughed, as I was told to give back the medallion too, which we would receive upon the distribution of our degrees. So, now I await patiently, placing my trust in God that the collection period would be smooth.
Joys
Five years ago, I never projected that I would have obtained a BA in Mass Communications or have the opportunity to work in media right now; however, our plans are not God’s and sometimes, we just need to let HIM take the wheel.
My circle opened up because of my experience at COSTAATT and due to this, I gained friends to whom I will forever be grateful to.
So, to all my classmates and friends I met along this journey, thank you.
To my best friend, Cindy, thank you for our meeting which has deepened our friendship beyond college.
I must also thank the many lectures whom God placed in my academic life, as well as faculty and staff of all classes.They truly deserve a standing ovation and they would always have a place in my heart.
Special thanks to lectures such as Roddy Batchasingh, Michelle Mitchell, Miss Sampson, Earl Best and many more, that I can stand proud of where I am today.
Though the ending was not what I imagined. I am forever grateful to COSTAATT for a rich holistic education.
I entered its doors, timid and unsure of myself but on exit. I am confident and ready to showcase my abilities to the world.
This chapter of my life has closed, so on to the next!
My message to all students is, “Dream, pray, work hard and keep thriving. It does not matter whether your accomplishments are big or small, you’ve worked hard so celebrate it!”
Thank You COSTAATT.
(Having completed an internship while at COSTAATT, Chantalé Fletcher is now a reporter with AZP News )
Freshmen to Graduates: We Did It, Despite Covid!
By Chantalé Fletcher
NO parties or crossing the stage in academic regalia.
No loud cheers from the crowds and no in-person graduation thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Instead, a virtual graduation ceremony under the theme Ready for a changing world truly reflected the current effects of the global crisis.
Last month, COSTAATT’s City Campus in Port of Spain, came alive with the sound of music, as representatives from each school walked down the aisle dressed in academic regalia, together with stakeholders and other key officials.
Students, though celebrating individually with their families, were still stranded to the sounds of the college’s bands and words of encouragement from each official as we awaited our names and degrees to be called.
I now stand as a proud graduate with my fellow 600 graduates and more importantly, an Alma Mater of the Ken Gordon School of Journalism and Communication Studies (SOJACS).
One and only – COSTAATT- SOJACS
Why COSTAATT some asked?
Well, as a visual learner, their small classes gave me the individual attention needed to excel and grasp the materials. Numbers were never my friends, but words always melted my heart and I enjoyed a good story.
Just a girl with an active imagination and a scrapbook full of stories prompted a desire to share my stories with the world and such it directed my path to SOJACS.
Firstly, with the Associate Degree in Journalism and Public Relations followed by studies in Mass Communication in 2018.
I believed I far excelled in tertiary level education than secondary school.
A Mass Communication degree is full of opportunity as it exposes one to different career options, especially for those that despise the usual nine to five.
So, you could never be bored, well I was not.
COSTAATT has afforded me both theory and practical experiences from the best media and PR professionals. My degree also enhanced my creativity, renewed my self-confidence, kicked some of my timidness out and developed analytical and critical thinking skills.
An introvert, I never liked crowds which made networking a difficult task but I promise to try harder for the New Year.
Challenges as a student
Feelings of failure and rejection hung over my head, yet, I could not understand as school was fairly manageable with good grades.
Yet I broke down which began to affect my self-esteem and this led me to procrastinate with assignments which I never did before.
No foyer to sit and relax or friends to meet up before class. Now class began and ended at home – online and behind a screen.
This made my attention span drop, as I often got caught up in household affairs. I missed a change in environment, walking up Mucurapo Street or the occasional trip to Knocker’s Sports Bar & Lounge.
Enter the intervention of God who reminded me of my vision to help and inspire others through words. I wrestled with myself, back into the right attitude to continue the race.
And slowly, my zeal returned and then my workload became lighter, as I learned to let go and let God.
Graduation in a pandemic
Rush, Confusion and heart wrenching is what I would describe as graduation in this Covid-19 pandemic.
Yet, I am thankful to be alive in a time when so many people have lost their lives from Covid-19.
Our transition period clashed with a dark cloud that held the earth ransom since 2020.
In addition, the long waiting periods to get a confirmation for graduation created anxiety, especially when other university students posted their graduation photos.
I prayed and cried as I began to overthink.
Then, one day, the confirmation finally showed up in my student inbox with less than three days to prepare for the moment I anticipated for three years.
It was a complete rush, from hair to make-up but thank God, I had a “little” black dress due to my previous image, etiquette and protocol course in college which saved my skin.
Mixed emotion, excitement and disappointment. I regret not being able to walk across the stage to show others with self-doubt, that it does not matter where they come from but anything is possible with God and hard work.
However, I understand the seriousness of the Covid-19 pandemic but graduation at any level is a rite of passage, a celebration of one’s accomplishments.
Some may feel that I am selfish, but COSTAATT should have placed more effort into the execution and planning of the 2021 graduation photoshoot.
Yet, I know that every organisation and its people felt the dire strain associated with Covid.
Students at the South Campus got one day for their photos, while Campuses in Port of Spain and Chaguanas received two days.
Photo day
On arrival at the South Campus, I followed all Covid-19 protocols, paid for my package and proceeded to get dressed with help from officials.
Inside the photo room, I met fellow graduates from the Nursing and Marketing Departments but only two from SOJACS at that time.
The photographers were quite professional in assisting students to capture that big smile which would be the highlight and the end of our journey.
The shoot lasted five minutes, however, we had a backdrop with the COSTAAT’s logo to take our portraits yet the lighting wasn’t the best but I made it work.
I made it and told myself, “Be thankful for life because a couple of months could have been your last.”
Upon completion, we had to immediately return the gowns, hood and tassels. This surprised me because I thought we would be able to go to the foyer to take some additional photos.
Reality check!
We were not allowed to leave the hall with the gowns, (the foyer is upstairs on level two). So, for three years and for some even more, we received a few minutes in full academic regalia.
I laughed, as I was told to give back the medallion too, which we would receive upon the distribution of our degrees. So, now I await patiently, placing my trust in God that the collection period would be smooth.
Joys
Five years ago, I never projected that I would have obtained a BA in Mass Communications or have the opportunity to work in media right now; however, our plans are not God’s and sometimes, we just need to let HIM take the wheel.
My circle opened up because of my experience at COSTAATT and due to this, I gained friends to whom I will forever be grateful to.
So, to all my classmates and friends I met along this journey, thank you.
To my best friend, Cindy, thank you for our meeting which has deepened our friendship beyond college.
I must also thank the many lectures whom God placed in my academic life, as well as faculty and staff of all classes.They truly deserve a standing ovation and they would always have a place in my heart.
Special thanks to lectures such as Roddy Batchasingh, Michelle Mitchell, Miss Sampson, Earl Best and many more, that I can stand proud of where I am today.
Though the ending was not what I imagined. I am forever grateful to COSTAATT for a rich holistic education.
I entered its doors, timid and unsure of myself but on exit. I am confident and ready to showcase my abilities to the world.
This chapter of my life has closed, so on to the next!
My message to all students is, “Dream, pray, work hard and keep thriving. It does not matter whether your accomplishments are big or small, you’ve worked hard so celebrate it!”
Thank You COSTAATT.
(Having completed an internship while at COSTAATT, Chantalé Fletcher is now a reporter with AZP News )