Week 1 Assignment

Hi, my name is Brittany Helton.  I am currently majoring in Accounting at the University of Southern Mississippi. I plan on graduating in May 2012.  It feels like this day cannot come soon enough! I have lived in Hattiesburg for a year.  My husband and I moved here due to military relocation.  We came from a very small town so it has been a huge adjustment, but we love it here now!

I have taken several English classes throughout my education.  I have an Associate's degree in Office Systems Technology, and a large portion of the curriculum for this degree included classes that involved professional communication in written documents.  I have also worked as a secretary and a bookkeeper in an accounting firm so I have seen firsthand how English classes can help you excel in the workplace.  While I was employed at the accounting firm, I had to prepare different types of letters, memos, agendas for meetings, etc.  The majority of the letters that I produced were directed towards our clients such as collection letters or reminders.  The office I worked at was the headquarters for three other offices.  We often had to communication through the mail or e-mails to each of those offices.

Although I have had a variety of English classes, I feel that there is always room for improvement in one's communication skills.  In today's society, people have become obsessed with how quick we can get things done, and sometimes professional communication is lost in these "new and improved" methods.  I look forward to improving my English skills in this class and plan to utilize this knowledge in my career.