It’s kinda funny how the blog description for this write-up says Student Survival Kit. UP students don’t really live, I guess? Kidding.
The journey as a DevCom student is going to be a hell ride, and I am going to need more than what my mind and hands can manage. This is where the DevCom survival tools come in place. These are your essential materials that you will, no doubt, be using when writing your way through the loads of task and activities in the semester.
Call it the Holy Grails of sorts. I honestly can’t finish my tasks efficiently even if at least one is not available to me. I cannot survive without the five. (There, I said it.)
Read on if you want to know my five DevCom must-haves:
Laptop
One thing’s for sure: my laptop costs me my soul. I put this as the first and most important tool because for people like me who are interested in editing, a laptop provides you with the editing and publication software you will need in creating and upgrading your documents or write-ups. Laptops are also portable. If you need to write an article or two on the spot, just put out your laptop and you’re off to writing! Just make sure you bring your charger, because the two are the unspoken package deal.
Earphones/Headphones
Ah, yes. You’ve met your interviewee. You had a great talk. The answers were amazing and informative. Now comes your favorite part.
Transcription.
Your headphones or earphones are your best allies when working with different types of audio or videos. Pro tip: do NOT transcribe without your earphones on. Other than the fact that you will understand the audio better when you use them, be mindful of the noise you can make around you. If you’re in a public area of you have a room mate in your dormitory, do them a favor and listen on your own.
Headphones can also set the mood when you’re on the verge of a mental breakdown due to loads of academic work. Pick a song. Volume up. Ignore everyone around you. (Again, I’m kidding.)
Journal
Am I the only one who keeps buying journals but never uses them anyway because they look too pretty to write in?
For the ones I do use, journals let me keep track of my daily tasks and immediately lets me write down ideas before I forget them. Also, in case you don’t have a laptop with you, you can always write your essays or articles in your journal. (Why would you even leave your laptop?)
I need not say more. You can never go wrong with the classic pen and paper.
Cellphone
This, I guess, was a given. Your cellphones are your best contact devices and as communication students there is the need to be up-to-date with news, announcements, or even the occasional writing tasks. (no, i am not referring to weekly writes.)
Your phone is your all-in-one tool and having it with you, you can already do so many. Have to record an interview? No problem. Need to take a picture? Whip your phone out and you have a camera. Want to write something down? Phones have notepads you can use! The same with your laptops, make sure you have your phones on full charge before you go out or carry a charger or power bank with you.
Storage Device
With mounds and mounds of documents and files slowly filling up your computer storage, you have to put them away somewhere sooner or later. Having an external hard drive, for me, is extremely helpful because I don’t have to worry about deleting important files for the sake of room for storage. Soft wares also take up a lot of MB, even GB. I transfer my installers and other documents with large storage in my external hard drive, and if ever I’ll be needing those files I can just carry the drive along with me.
Most often, you use your flash drives when wanting to print out documents for academic requirements, especially when you don’t have your own printer. I also use my flash drive to print my readings. Of course, readings. Who doesn’t have them?
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