2025 In’s and Out’s: Communication Major Edition
Ahhh yes, the spring semester. The start of not just a new semester but a whole new year. Now at the risk of sounding like every lifestyle influencer on your explore page, now is the time for change! Change can be scary, especially for students. So much is changing with us as we learn how to navigate adulthood and balance putting in our best effort for assignments with experiencing all the beautiful things life has to offer us at this age. I for one find this daunting at times but all is not lost. I’m here to guide you through all the ins and outs that are gonna make your 2025 school year, whether you're in your first or final year, your best one YET! So without further ado, I present the unofficial, official In’s and Outs for the 2025 school year: communications major edition.
Disclaimer: This list is entirely unserious and yet should be taken with the gravest sincerity. It is written for my fellow communications girlies but can be adopted by all majors here at SFU (even YOU Beedie!)
INS
Doing your assigned readings
Now I'm starting with a controversial one here so please hear me out. Now I get it, reading is scary. Especially getting through some of the dense upper-year readings, with giant terms that I can’t even pronounce let alone understand. Like what even is a discourse?!
HEAR ME OUT OKAY! Yes, it can be an arduous process to get through your course readings every week but I promise you it does give you a better understanding of what you are going to learn that week. And even if you don't fully understand what messages are which and what meanings come from them, that's okay! Part of learning in class is gaining an understanding of those texts. I promise you, you will feel like a genius going into class having done your readings.
Putting in equal efforts for group projects
Picture this. You get assigned a group project worth 35% of your grade and instead of the usual life-altering panic that erupts within you, a strange sense of calm flows through your mind. Everyone in the group puts in an equal amount of effort, submits their portions on time and you receive the best grade you've ever gotten in a group project. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the grass is beautifully green. Life is perfect.
It's 2025 okay, not putting in equal effort for group projects is simply so last year.
Mackenzie cafe pizza
Hot take: Mackenzie Cafe pizza is the best food at SFU.Need a little pick me up to get through your four-hour seminar? What better than a cheeky little piece of pizza to fuel your body and your soul? So inexpensive, so delicious, so comforting and so IN for 2025.
Self-care
We have busy lives as students, and often self care is the first thing to go out the window. But no more! I guarantee you, that taking the time to do whatever it is that soothes your soul and calms your anxiety will help you have a clearer mind to attack your growing pile of assignments.
So go for that nature walk, catch up with that friend you haven't seen for a while and put on that face mask. You deserve it!
Attending Industries in Motion
Does the prospect of graduating and finding a ‘real’ job keep you up at night? Fear no more- CMNSU’s upcoming event, Industries in Motion, is the perfect opportunity for you to meet industry professionals working in the communications field and connect with potential employers.
The event is on March 22nd, 2025 so mark your calendars now. Ticket details to come but know that going to Industries in Motion is an absolute IN for 2025.
OUTS
Not participating in class discussions
Seriously the easiest way to grab a quick 10 % towards your grade. You’re already being a girl boss by attending class and getting your degree, may as well give a quick opinion and get a lovely little discussion grade. 2025 is the year when we don’t let the fear of being wrong stop us from trying!
Marshall McLuhan
I'm sick and tired of having Marshall McLuhan be the only communication scholar with a household name. Yes, he has some very intelligent things to say, and true his theories formed a lot of vital communications studies BUT 2025 is the year where we acknowledge all the knowledge contributed by other scholars in the field. Especially the trailblazing women contributing to our growing field of study.
Procrastination
Out of all the outs on this list, this one feels personal. I’ve come to realize, despite denying it for years, that I have a severe procrastination problem. Maybe it's the doomscrolling, maybe it’s a lack of motivation, who knows! But 2025 is the year when we’re going to be intentional with our deadlines and motivated to get it done. Because there is no better feeling than having everything checked off of your to-do list.
Driving around for hours and hours trying to find a parking spot
This one is less of an out and more of a grievance. As a commuter school, you would think the SIX parking lots at SFU would have enough space for all the students to park… you have thought wrong I fear. So I'm sending positive vibes into the air, in the hope that this problem will somehow vanish and that circling the parking lots will be OUT in 2025.
NOT attending Industries in motion
TRUST and believe, you do not want to be missing out on this event. Imagine you go to class the next day and your friend tells you about all the awesome connections they made at Industries in Motion, of the fun they had chatting with peers and taking pictures in the awesome photo booth. You can’t miss out on that! Avoid the FOMO and keep up with our socials ( @CMNSU) to see when tickets go on sale for the most IN event of 2025.
