Listen Here
Column by Prof. Amy Rogan
Assistant Professor of Media and Communication & Adviser to The Pulse
rogan@findlay.edu
I really wanted to say something profound as we get ready to head into the blissful winter break, but the only words that came to mind were “grateful heart.”
Maybe that’s enough.
I have written about gratefulness before. I am grateful for many, many things. But I’ll hold off on talking about my kids or my grandkids right now. For this moment, I’ll talk about my students.
This semester I’ve had the privilege to work with a handful of students who have put some amazing work into very creative and rewarding projects. Hopefully you’ve seen most of them in the Pulse.
The relationship between professor and student takes on many shapes, forms and “vibes.” I’m not sure how my students perceive me. But I hope they see me as encouraging, supportive, and maybe a little “fun.” While I suspect my students aren’t running and skipping to my class in gleeful anticipation of what fun I have in store for them, I hope at the very least, they are not dragging their feet.
In the Media and Communication Department we’re a little lucky in some ways. We have the room to create and to let our students create. It’s our job to nurture their creativity while helping them refine the professionalism behind the creative product whether that’s a podcast, a news video or a newsprint article.
Some of the projects they’ve worked on this fall have included a multi-camera interview with UF President Katherine Fell, a special print edition of the Pulse (out this week), and a newscast (out next week). And, of course, the quiz show. Hopefully you had a chance to watch the Quiz Show my students did for U.S. Media Literacy week. What you didn’t see was the professionalism and calm with which the students behind the camera displayed as a camera died, an SD card maxed out, and a mic died. Not to mention the editing—Richard (Ricky) Mast is a whiz at editing and has a heart for it.
I see so much potential in our students, and it truly makes my heart full. But it also makes my heart a little sad when I see them falling short of their potential. There are times when teachers have to step back and let their students succeed or fail on their own. Much like a parent, that can be tough to do.
I suspect some of my fellow faculty relate to this way more than people realize. Yes, we are invested in the students. Yes, we care. Yes, we want them to be successful—for THEIR sake. And yes, our hearts become full with gratefulness when we see their work paying off.
Grateful they embraced the challenge. Grateful they stretched outside their comfort zone. Grateful they didn’t give up. Grateful they trusted me. (Eventually.)
Perhaps this was not the most profound thought to share this holiday season, but as we all prepare to spend time with our families, I pray we do so with a grateful heart.
