As I enter my senior year at Geneva College, there are numerous classes I’ve taken that I can look back on and identify as enjoyable and important—classes where I felt a sense of satisfaction in my learning. In the classes outside of my major, many professors opened my eyes to see how other fields of study connect with my specific focus. As a communication major, though, there are three classes that stick out in my mind as being the most crucial classes I have taken so far. They require a lot of hard work, and they are not at all easy. But they taught me to think like a communication professional and prepared me for the future. I still have not taken every communication class needed, but these are the ones I'll remember and draw from in my life.
When I started at Geneva as a freshman, my emphasis was in one area of communication—writing. Toward the end of my freshman year, however, I decided I wanted to add a public relations focus as well to widen my range of skills. This was the first public relations course I took, and it opened my eyes to just how many details go into the PR practice and how much concentration is required to excel at it. It brought topics to my attention I never would have thought of, and it got me to think differently than I had before. The major project—a PR campaign we work on in pairs throughout the year—was very challenging, but my professor was very helpful. Throughout, his expertise and teaching style made me better able to think in terms of public relations.
In this course, we learned about a variety of communication theories—symbolic interactionism, uncertainty reduction theory, social penetration theory, etc. As we studied these many theories, it allowed me to see how scholars view different situations in vastly different ways. Some theories directly contradict others, and it was interesting to think about the ones with which I agreed and disagreed as they were at play in the real world. At the end of the year, we worked in pairs to select one theory and apply it to a movie of our choosing, analyzing the interactions and situations in the movie from a given theoretical perspective. (For example, I used cognitive dissonance theory to analyze the movie Good Will Hunting.) This project helped because, though fictitious, movies can present realistic situations and interactions that allow me to see how the theories apply in a practical way.
This course was the first class I ever took at Geneva College. There were numerous principles I learned in this class that got my college career as a communication major started, but what really made this class crucial was it made me realize just how different college was from high school in terms of rigor and intensity. Despite this being a 100-level, introductory course, it remains one of the hardest classes I’ve taken at Geneva College, even five semesters later. It was a “wake-up call” for me. And while I did not enjoy receiving this wake-up call at the time, I look back on this class as one of—if not the most—important moments in my college career because of the change it forced me to make with my study habits and work-ethic. It was the class that molded me from a lackadaisical high school student who got decent grades without trying too hard, into a dedicated college student who cares deeply about my education.
How about you? What are some of the crucial classes you’ve taken that made you into the person you are today or are making you into the person you will be in the future?
To learn more about the Communication program at Geneva College, visit geneva.edu/academics/majors/communication or contact the Geneva Admissions Office at 800.847.8255 | admissions@geneva.edu.
- Andrew Domencic '19
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
Jul 17, 2018
Faithful Doubt: Habakkuk, written by pastor Travis Scott, explores the short prophetic book of Habakkuk, in a practical and meaningful way through the lens of a doubter. Travis approaches the passage of scripture from an honest and humble perspective, recalling difficulties experienced as a husband, father, and pastor.
Dr. J. Ligon Duncan of Reformed Theological Seminary delivered the spring 2021 Commencement address at Geneva College on May 10, 2021. Here is an excerpt of that message, entitled, "Every Good Work," from 2 Timothy 3. This excerpt first appeared in the Summer 2021 edition of Geneva Magazine.
When the Bible teaches one thing and your “instincts,” as it were, disagree, whose wisdom do you trust, your own or God’s? Do we really need to be told not to trust in our own minds? Yes, because we want to trust ourselves, and because in our day putatively wise people constantly tell us that high self-esteem brings success.
When the Bible teaches one thing and your “instincts,” as it were, disagree, whose wisdom do you trust, your own or God’s? Do we really need to be told not to trust in our own minds? Yes, because we want to trust ourselves, and because in our day putatively wise people constantly tell us that high self-esteem brings success.
As busy as college students are, it can be profoundly beneficial for them to seek out and engage in a routine Bible study. Diving deeper into their faith, exploring what the world’s challenges mean to them, and creating a Christian-based path forward can give any college student the direction he or she needs to achieve their best life. Still, it’s not always easy to make that decision—instead of a night with friends or yet another study session for a high-level math class, go to Bible study instead.
Handing our cares and worries over to God gives us peace which keeps us from falling into doubt, as stated in Philippians. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
What should someone with wealth do? Solomon writes, “Pay attention to it and know its condition.” He uses the example of sheep and goats. Wise parents blessed with wealth will teach their children how to work to maintain it. Wise children will accept the burdens of responsibility that go with family wealth, always remembering that riches do not last forever.
The Book of Proverbs has no use for the gullible, viewing them as willful fools. Even when everyone else can see a hateful, deceitful person for what he is, the gullible choose to believe gracious words.
At Easter, a good question to ask is, "How are people saved?" This should be a question that Christians can easily answer, and indeed most can. However, sometimes Christians are less knowledgeable about the doctrine of justification and its important distinctions than perhaps they should be.
How should leaders deal with difficult situations in difficult times? Geneva College’s John Gallo and Jenna Bieber provide a guidebook for leaders. "Lessons from Cain and Abel to Guide Leaders Through Turbulent Times" walks readers through the account of Cain and Abel to teach leaders the importance of justice, mercy, harmony and equality.
© Geneva College | All rights reserved
