Writing has always brought me joy. As a self-described “grammar nerd,” I enjoy proofreading and editing, and offer my “second set of eyes” to anyone I know who may need them. I believe proofreading is an underrated and underappreciated skill. I believe that not enough attention is paid to it, and too few people concern themselves with its value. After I completed undergrad, I would write in my work and personally to reflect, but I found myself wanting to do it for a living. It was my love for writing that led me to apply to Sam Houston State University’s (SHSU) Master of Arts in Technical Communication program. Now that I am approaching the end of the program, I am truly glad I have been able to participate in the program. I believe the mastery I’ve gained in the competencies of Editing, Audience Awareness, and Usability have prepared me to pursue employment in a profession in the Technical Communication field.

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The experience I gained in the MA program has given me confidence in my ability to proofread on-screen, thus providing me with a valuable expansion to my editing skill set. Rhetorically, what writers must always keep at the forefront of our intent is the criteria of 1) who our audience is, 2) the intended message we want the audience to take from our work, 3) what the best or most appropriate medium would be to communicate that meaning to our audience. In the SHSU MA in Technical Communications program, I learned how important it is for  instructions to be written with accessibility for all in mind. In my studies at SHSU, I built upon that knowledge by learning about Nielson’s teachings, including their 10 Usability Heuristics for user interface design and human centered design.

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I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to participate in Sam Houston State University’s Master of Arts in Technical Communication program. I feel that my mastery of the three competencies I have discussed above, Editing, Audience Awareness, and Usability, has prepared me to be successful in the Technical Communication field. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to focus and with these competencies during my time in the MA in Technical Communication program, and look forward to continuing to use this knowledge in the future. I would recommend this program to anyone wanting to learn more about the field of Technical Communication or professional communication.

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