Ryan Eisenhuth ’23, a senior Communication student, loves Communication and loves Geneva College. His deep passion for his area of study is evident to anyone who spends time with him. It is also seen in the many extra-curricular activities he participates in, and in how he shares what he learns in the classroom with others.
Ryan recently presented two papers at the Pennsylvania Communication Association’s Annual Conference and two other papers at the Ohio Communication Conference.
Ryan’s papers are titled:
Ryan describes his motivation for presenting at these conferences, “It is very encouraging to not just write a paper for class, but to write papers to share. In our department we are taught that if you are only writing for a grade you are doing something wrong. You should write to serve other people, that is being a good neighbor. I took that very much to heart. I am not just going to write something, turn it in, and be done, I am going to share it. Doing more than just the bare minimum is a way of demonstrating my love for the field.”
Attending these conferences was encouraging to him. He describes being surrounded by people who love and can talk about the same things he loves and is passionate about. Conferences present the opportunity to share your research with others and learn things from other students and scholars in the region.
“It was a really great opportunity. I was able to network with other undergraduates and listen to other presenters who have already inspired future research questions for me. I had great conversations about my research. Even if they don’t agree with you, they want to think with you. Everyone is supportive and passionate about the field.”
Ryan also expressed that PCA and OCA are also great places to connect with potential graduate school and/or job opportunities.
In addition to being an active student in the Communication Department, Ryan is also an RA and President of Gold Spire Creative, a media and design club here on campus. Although Ryan is extremely involved, he was not excited about Geneva at first.
When first looking at schools, Ryan had no interest in Geneva. But after his mom required him to explore the college, he begrudgingly visited campus.
“The second I came to campus I fell in love.”
Ryan describes feeling at home the moment he came to campus, even though he was negative coming in. Ryan sees his education here at Geneva as much more than the foundation of a future job, learning skills, or taking classes.
“I was told here that I am a Christian who happens to be a Communication student, not a Communication student who happens to be a Christian. I rethought my entire perspective on education after that. There is a certain sacredness to the work we do here.”
In high school Ryan was interested in video production, and wanted to make YouTube videos. Through his high school’s communication club, he was paid to do video work and really enjoyed it. He worked on the crew for school productions and live streams. In high school he visited a news station and was given the advice to get a Communication degree, not a video production or film degree, so his education would not be as limited. Ryan took that advice to heart, which is why he decided to major in Communication.
“At Geneva I learn how to think like a filmmaker, not press buttons like a filmmaker.”
As Ryan has progressed in his education, his love for the field and his classes has continued to grow. The more he reads and learns, he says, the more conversations grow out of that, and the deeper he gets into the theory and practice, both of which, he explains, students receive instruction in at Geneva.
Many of his friends question why he would attend a small school like Geneva College, especially given his interests. He says many people think that small schools do not have the resources of larger schools for this particular field.
“People think a small campus means less opportunity. That is not true. People ask me why I would go to such a small school for what I do. At Geneva, I [was] able to get my hand on a camera my first semester. I can be president of a club that serves a lot of people. I can go to conferences. There are so many opportunities to grow. Because it is such a small campus it is easier to get in touch with opportunities than you would on a larger campus. You get to experience a wide variety of things. You can be involved deeply in your major while being connected and involved in other parts of campus. Geneva offers a unique community-building environment. That is a beautiful thing.”
Within the Communication Department, Ryan comments that the professors and fellow students are extremely encouraging, which is a big factor in why he submitted and presented his research at PCA and OCA. Ryan also comments that he felt prepared because in this department “You will be writing about lots of things….often.” Ryan estimates he regularly writes between 15-20 pages of academic scholarship for each class each semester.
In addition, Ryan comments they read a lot, with each class averaging 4-6 books a semester. “The books are not just books that apply now, they are books that apply to the whole field, interrelate, and talk about the topics in depth. This has prepared me for a lot of good research practices.” Geneva students participate in rigorous academic work that prepares them for further education and the workplace.
A unique aspect of the program, he says, is that “I have done so many papers over the years here, and always told to never come up with a topic. Always come up with a question, then let the research direct your topic, answer, and paper, not the other way around. All the professors are willing to meet with you ahead of turning in a paper, read it, critique it, and then turn it in so you are always learning and turning in your best work.”
“With” is the word that kept coming to the forefront as Ryan spoke. Students and professors think with one another, learn with one another, and students are in community with one another.
“The work we do is sacred. We learn for the purpose of communicating what we have learned to others. That is why we do what we do.”
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