Final Weekly Summary

When I first started DS106, I honestly thought it was going to be another class where I completed assignments and moved on. I did not realize how much it would push me to think differently about storytelling and creativity. Looking back now, I can see how much I learned, not just about media, but about myself as a storyteller.

One of the biggest things I learned is that storytelling is everywhere. Before this class, I mostly associated stories with books, movies, or television. Throughout the semester, I learned how a single image, a sound effect, a song choice, or a camera angle can tell a story without saying a word. The movie scene analysis especially changed the way I watch media. I never paid much attention to camera angles, editing choices, or sound design before. Now I catch myself noticing those things when I watch television or scroll through videos online.

I also learned that creativity does not always come naturally the moment you sit down to work. There were several assignments where I stared at the instructions thinking, “What am I even supposed to do with this?” The Daily Creates were probably the best example of that. At first some of them seemed random or strange, but they forced me to think outside the box and create something from almost nothing. They helped me become more comfortable with experimenting instead of trying to make everything perfect.

The project that surprised me the most was the audio unit. I never realized how powerful audio storytelling could be. Listening to stories and creating my own made me understand how much emotion can be communicated through voice, music, silence, and sound effects alone. Before this class, I would have never thought of audio as a storytelling medium that could stand on its own.

If I could take this class over again, I would spend less time second-guessing myself. There were a lot of assignments where I worried too much about whether I was doing it “right.” By the end of the semester, I realized that some of my best work came from trusting my ideas and putting more of my personality into my projects. I would also start assignments earlier. More than once I found myself rushing when I had better ideas after I had already started creating something.

The most exciting projects for me were the video assignments. I really enjoyed creating my character, Adeline, and building stories around her. I liked being able to combine music, visuals, editing, and storytelling into one project. Even something as simple as filming a drive to get food became more interesting when I started thinking about how to tell a story through video. Learning how to edit in Premiere Pro was frustrating at times, but it was also one of the most rewarding skills I gained from the course.

Another thing I will remember is how much freedom this class gave us. Most classes tell you exactly what to do, but DS106 encouraged creativity and interpretation. Whether it was creating artwork, recording audio, designing graphics, or making videos, there was always room to make the assignment your own. That freedom was intimidating at first, but it became one of my favorite parts of the course.

For my final story, I decided to tell the story of a shoulder recovering from injury and surgery. It sounds unusual, but that was part of the challenge. Throughout the semester we talked about characters and storytelling, and I wanted to see if I could turn something that is normally not considered a character into one. By using visuals, audio, video, and written storytelling together, I was able to create a narrative about resilience, healing, and learning to listen when something is trying to tell you it needs help.

Overall, this course taught me that storytelling is not limited to one format. Stories can be told through photos, sounds, designs, videos, and even everyday experiences. More importantly, I learned that some of the strongest stories come from taking ordinary moments and finding meaning in them. That is something I will carry with me long after this class ends.

Final Story: