JOUR 205: Learning & Sharing

Starting the last quarter of my undergraduate college career in March, I felt so many emotions: excitement, nervousness, and anxiousness.  I was excited to see what this quarter had in store, nervous to do well in my classes, and anxious to figure out what my future after college would hold.  Adding to all these feelings is the desire to do well in my classes, as I’ve found myself on the track to graduating summa cum laude.  To me, this distinction says so much more than, “Oh, she must be smart.”  I believe that this distinction t is a testament to my work ethic and desire to give 100% in anything and everything I do.  Throughout my high school and college years, I have come to recognize what I as a student, person, and individual am capable of.  Therefore, I know that I am capable of great things and achieving this distinction would prove to myself and to others that I will work my hardest to achieve the things that I know I am capable of. 

With that said, I have four classes left standing in my way of graduation.  Those classes include my last few chapters of Senior Project, Tractor Driving, Ag Business Managerial Accounting, and Ag Communications.  Initially, I thought I knew what to expect in each of these classes, having talked to my peers who have taken these classes.  The thing I wasn’t prepared for was what JOUR 205 (Ag Communications) had in store.  Walking into the first day of class, I was expecting to know almost everyone in the class, seeing as I am an Ag Communications major and am pretty involved in the department.  Surprisingly, I knew maybe 5 people out of the entire class of close to 25!  Immediately, I knew that this class wasn’t going to be what I was expecting.  I came into the class thinking that my fellow students would be just as passionate about agriculture as I am.  I also came into it thinking that most of my classmates would be relatively knowledgeable about the agriculture industry and agriculture issues.

Though I was at first I was a bit bummed that I didn’t know as many people as I was expecting and that there wasn’t as much passion for the industry as I was hoping for, I find myself becoming more intrigued by the dynamics of the class.  As an agriculture communicator, this is yet another opportunity for me to practice my communication skills with people who may not have an understanding of the industry that means so much to me.  This class represents a great balance of learning and teaching, in that all members of the class will have the opportunity to learn things they didn’t know before and teach others things that they do know.  For me, as someone who grew up around and have experience in agriculture, I have the opportunity to learn from people who have experience in journalism and design, while teaching and sharing my experiences in the agriculture industry.

I look forward to what this class has in store, and what I can learn from and share with my peers!