This summer has been somewhat busy for me. I mentioned in my last blog that some of us still have to go through summer classes even though the academic year has come to an end. I am not one who would normally take summer courses but if I need to take one or two, I would. This summer I decided to take a summer course but the pandemic is still an issue in the world and here in the US; so Summer I classes have to be taken online. I am fine with this decision since I had gotten used to the idea of classes being online(also my course was already online). With that in mind, let me share how my experience with my online course has been like so far.

As some may know, I am a Communication major under UMD; so my course falls under UMD’s courses for Summer I. I am taking a course that is called COMM 324 which is a course about Communication and Gender. I began taking this course on June 1st and will continue to take this course until July 10th. Despite taking this course for about three weeks now, I was able to learn so much in such little time. It is a bit time consuming as I do have to write a discussion and respond to another student’s question(s) for that week. I’ve created a routine to ensure that I can finish my assignments in a timely fashion and leave time for me to relax for the rest of the week.

I’m also aware that it is Pride Month and let me tell you, this course did teach me about the difference between gender and sexuality which I know can very useful for the near future. I intend to learn all that I can about how gender varies and how Communication can influence this subject as we rely on Communication to inform, persuade, and entertain us about different subjects. I want to be mindful and respectful of how people see themselves; and give them a place to be comfortable with themselves. So I want to take some time and include the LGBTQIA+ community as they do deserve recognition even after this month ends.

If you are new to USG and are someone who doesn’t identify as male or female, this piece of information is for you. At USG we have two All Gender Restrooms, one in Building III right next to the SAS Office and one in Building IV(BSE). For everyone; here’s a link to the LGBTQIA+ services we have on campus to join, support, and find people like you. USG wants the campus to be a place where everyone can be themselves.

If you have any questions or concerns, comment below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Hope you enjoyed this blog and I’ll see you in the next one!