Telling the Story

When Trish Rana learned that Washington College offered a program in Communication and Media Studies, she was instantly smitten with the place. The program provides her the latitude to think and talk about topics of importance to her, to hone her writing skills, and to consider how she can bring those skills to bear in a humanitarian effort to help others who have been marginalized.

 

As a college of the liberal arts and sciences, she realized, it would also provide a broader foundation than the film program at a large urban university she originally considered. She has fulfilled that expectation with a series of experiences including oral history projects, writing, marketing, and business classes. And this summer, she’ll have the opportunity to work with filmmakers in the industry during a two-week seminar in Spain—a course developed by Alicia Kozma, Assistant Professor of Communication and Media Studies.

“Being in her classes has been a thrill,” Trish exclaims. “She’s very personable and approachable. I feel very comfortable in that space. And the topics we delved into made me think about things differently. It made me less judgmental of other people.”

Trish, who grew up in the Philippines, was used to seeing economic disparities in Manila. She was surprised to see that some populations in the United States also go without those basic necessities.  She believes that’s a change she can bring about by using her communication skills in the non-profit sector.