Class Reflection

 As the semester comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting a lot on the social media class I took this spring. When I first signed up, I thought it would be mostly about posting on Instagram and maybe learning some marketing buzzwords. I had no idea how deep we’d actually go and how much it would change the way I think about what we see online every day.

One of the biggest takeaways from the class was realizing how strategic social media really is. Behind every post, there’s planning, scheduling, audience analysis, and usually a purpose, whether that’s to promote, inform, or entertain. We learned about algorithms, analytics, branding, and even crisis management. It made me look at platforms like TikTok and Twitter (X) completely differently. What once seemed random or casual is often the result of calculated choices made by people who know exactly what they’re doing.

The most eye opening part of the class, though, was running a blog site. I thought it would be simple to write a few posts, upload them, and be done. But managing a blog is a whole different world. From setting up the layout and navigation, to choosing color palettes and fonts, I had to think like a designer, a writer, and a marketer all at once. Creating content was just one part of it.

There were times when it felt overwhelming, especially balancing the blog with other assignments and life in general. But looking back, I’m proud of what I created. I didn’t just learn about social media, I got to practice it. And that experience taught me more than any lecture ever could.

This class also changed the way I view my own social media use. I’m more mindful now. I think about why I follow certain accounts, what kind of content I want to create, and how I present myself online. It’s no longer just scrolling, there’s awareness behind it. Overall, this class pushed me creatively and technically in ways I didn’t expect. It showed me that social media isn’t just a distraction it’s a powerful tool. And I feel a lot more confident now in how to use it with purpose.