Being in Mediazone has lent me experiences and skills I thought I couldn’t achieve. The first thing I learned when I entered Mediazone is that achievement and comparison aren’t with you and others, but it’s you versus yourself. This idea allowed me to see myself gradually increase in learning skills quicker and become more knowledgeable in what I know.
In my first year, I started as a volunteer in Mediazone. As a volunteer, you soak up all the information, trying to observe all the skills they teach you. It’s also the best time to dig in deep with all the equipment, which gives you more freedom to find your weak spots and work on them as much as you want. Being a volunteer helped me get a lot of advice from all the other Studio assistants around me, who helped me become comfortable with the environment and what could eventually be my responsibilities.
Another thing I developed in being at Mediazone is independent study which I have been trying to improve upon and increase since being a Studio assistant. This was the best time for me to learn on my own time.
Even though I was getting the training, I decided to do independent learning on a specific software. For example, I would start with Adobe Premiere Pro software, open up a YouTube tutorial and focus on learning, which helped me learn more efficiently . This continued as I adapted independent learning to many different aspects at Mediazone.
Around my first year second semester, I became a Studio assistant. It was a lot to handle at first because of the daunting responsibility. But using the training I had, my time volunteering and assisting with events, along with my independent study I was doing , it helped me navigate and gain support as much as possible as to the role I was given.
There were times that I was quieter and did not want to break out of my shell, but that was the best thing about being in Mediazone. As someone who gained a lot of responsibility in quite a short time, the other Studio assistants and staff helped me make the transition easier, which was a big help in trying to push me out of my shell and work on improving myself.
When I started as a lab assistant I was on the night shift and I had a student come in with a problem in the radio studio, the issue was that the console wasn’t “working” and the student couldn’t hear the recording. At the time there was no one around at Mediazone to help me, just myself, alone. I couldn’t seem to solve the issue on my own.
I ended up calling one of the off duty Studio assistants and they stayed with me on the line helping me with all my questions until the problem had been dealt with. I felt relieved at the moment that I could call, depend on and really rely on a Studio assistant to help me out.
At that moment I truly felt the idea of having a strong team bond when entering Mediazone and no matter the issue or problem everyone helps each other to keep a smooth operation and friendly culture.
As I am in my fourth year, I can see the change I’ve had over the years. As a newer group of Studio assistants arises, I see myself in most of them coming to a new place and facing new challenges. However, just like everyone who was there for me when I started, I can only hope that I can and will do the same for everybody that I meet in Mediazone before I graduate.
I am so glad I got to experience so many bright ideas and have the greatest time with the most remarkable group of people that I had the pleasure of knowing. These were my adventures through the trials, new places, and positions. I am glad to have gotten to know and understand how to manage difficulties around me, as I have gotten older and wiser, having spent my time at Mediazone.
Farah Ahmed
Mediazone Studio Assistant
