As a student in the International Baccalaureate program, I had the opportunity to participate in the Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS) component, which required me to engage in creative, physical, and service-oriented activities outside of the classroom. My experience as a social media manager for the school newspaper, “The Corridors,” allowed me to fulfill the creativity aspect of the CAS program while also providing me with valuable learning outcomes and challenges.
My role as the social media manager for “The Corridors” involved managing the newspaper’s social media accounts and creating engaging content to attract more readers. I was responsible for creating posts and reels on Instagram that promoted the newspaper’s articles and encouraged people to read and share them. I also worked with the rest of the newspaper team to come up with new and exciting content ideas, such as photo challenges and polls, to keep our readers engaged and informed.
One of the key learning outcomes of my experience as a social media manager was developing my communication and collaboration skills. I had to work closely with the newspaper team to ensure that we were all on the same page when it came to content creation and promotion. I also had to communicate effectively with our readers and followers, responding to their comments and feedback, and making sure that their voices were heard.
Another important outcome was developing my digital literacy skills. I had to become proficient in using different social media platforms and tools to create engaging content, track analytics, and manage multiple accounts. I also had to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in social media marketing to make sure that we were using the most effective strategies to reach our audience.
While my experience as a social media manager was rewarding, it did come with its fair share of challenges. One of the biggest challenges I faced was balancing my responsibilities as a student with my commitments to “The Corridors.” I had to find ways to manage my time effectively and prioritize my tasks to make sure that I was able to meet all my obligations.
Another challenge was dealing with negative feedback and criticism from readers. While it was important to listen to their feedback and address their concerns, it was also challenging to maintain a positive and professional tone when responding to comments that were critical or negative.
Overall, my experience as a social media manager for “The Corridors” was a valuable one. It allowed me to develop important skills in communication, collaboration, and digital literacy while also contributing to the school community through my work with the newspaper. I would highly recommend the CAS program to any student who is looking for an opportunity to challenge themselves and grow outside of the classroom.
