BRIDGET Dingwani is a second-year HND Media and Communications student at Glasgow Clyde College and is part of the team which is currently organising the Scottish Student Journalism Awards 2016.
What course are you studying?
I am currently doing my second-year in HND Media and Communications at Glasgow Clyde College.
What inspired you to choose this course ahead of all the others on offer?
Overall, my decision was influenced by a number of things.
Firstly, my personal background. I grew up in an under-developed country where media still does play an intergral part in our daily lives. Secondly, because we don’t have as much free press as Europe or any other developed countries.
My main aim was to acquire as much knowledge as I could from all aspects media so that, one day, I will educate my fellow countrypeople; hence the reason why I chose a media and communications course.
This course does not focus on one area but a variety – from broadcast to print. Ater all, knowledge is said to be power, so I want to learn it all.
I have always been known as a creative person and this course helps me nurture and grow my creativity.
At what stage are you?
I am almost finished with my second year.
What have you most enjoyed about the course so far?
Following my passion and getting acknowledged for it.
Last year, I was awarded a certificate for being the best student of HNC Media and Communications course, 2014/5.
The course really gives you lots of opportunities to try different things and get to know loads of different aspects of media.
The most significant part of the course is my graded unit. I am currently helping to organise the Scottish Student Journalism Awards 2016, which is now considered very prestigious.
It’s a major, annual event which gives talented young student journalists a platform to showcase their best works.
And it is also a nationally-recognised event which brings together the best of the Scottish broadcast and print media with Scotland’s new generation of journalists.
We launched the competition two weeks ago and the deadline is next week, Monday April 18.
We are hopeful that we will get even more entries this year and the ceremony night will be a success.
This project requires a lot of hard work and team-working and, hopefully, the results will reflect this.
The competition is open to all journalism students across Scotland – at universities and colleges.
For those eligible to enter, they can submit their work to: ssja2016applications@gmail.com
What lies ahead and how are you preparing yourself for it?
First things first, we have to get as many entries as possible and hopefully all our hard work will pay off on the night of the event. I am hopeful that SSJA 2016 will be the best, as we are working harder than ever before.
Secondly, I am also preparing myself to further develop my knowledge and skillset at a university level – at Glasgow Caledonian University. I enjoy learning new things and setting up challenges for myself, so this will be a great opportunity for me to shine and prepare for my future.
Are you currently using any of your new-found skills in actual media work?
I am proud to say that I have learnt so much over the past years and I am currently using my new skills to run a PR service for the college.
The Clyde Communications Firm is designed to represent/market students’ course work in the real world of business.
What next, after you have no doubt successfully completed your course?
I am confident and hopeful that I will pass my course and move onto university.
I relish the idea of a career working with the public and I would really love to get into the PR and marketing industry as I have gained great experience in PR and advertising both inside and outside college.
Any single piece of media studies advice you want to share?
The world we live in is constantly changing, so make yourself seen and heard and you can only do this through hard working, showing determination and commitment.
There’s no greater advice I can give to anyone other than going for something that you are passionate about.
Lastly, the ‘world is your oyster’, so strive hard and make a name for yourself!
