Gina Bericchia

Media and Musings

Let’s Graduate So I Can Learn Again

Photo credit: Otterbein College

Do not get me wrong, my time at Otterbein College has been amazing (see this older post). I had wonderful personal experiences, figured out who I was, made terrific friends and set goals for the future. I had great academic experiences, discovered a love for world literature and learned to consider my life on paper through the personal essay. I had pre-professional opportunities that changed my life, from internships to being a leader in Otterbein’s Public Relations Student Society of America chapter and forming relationships with my mentors.

But I have piles of books scattered around my room that I have been dying to read and have not yet had the chance to because frankly, I have been reading the same crappy public relationships text books over and over again that all say the same thing. None of which have addressed new media, by the way.

I have written papers I have completely made up out of thin air to meet deadlines. I have worked to get the best grade possible and not to learn the most about what interest me. I learned to write what I know professors want to read rather than what I truly believe. There were life lessons in these moments, but let’s face it…there was not a whole lot of “learning” happening in those moments and I am not particularly proud of them.

Newton D. Baker, a former Mayor of Cleveland, said, “The man who graduates today and stops learning tomorrow is uneducated the day after.” I believe the education process is not a four year journey with a start and end date, but a process of continuing to build a base of knowledge.

I cannot wait to graduate so I learn again. I want to read more books that interest me and write more blog posts. I want to live an academic life after I graduate and forever more. So let’s graduate already, I’m ready to learn.

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June 3, 2010 - Posted by | Graduation | , ,

7 Comments »

  1. Chaim Potok, in “The Chosen,” teaches that we each have two annual obligations: to choose a friend and acquire a teacher.

    Every year. This starts especially now, for you, as the school bells stop ringing you to class.

    Comment by Artie Isaac | June 9, 2010 | Reply

  2. Artie – It was lovely to meet you in person today. Thank you so much for your comment. I think the obligation Potok mentions is an important one and I will try to always fulfill it as I make this transition in my life. Thank you so much for sharing.

    Comment by Gina Bericchia | June 9, 2010 | Reply

  3. Congrats Gina. You did an amazing job at OC and the proof is in the pudding. You are leaving with a first step in career – not just a job.

    You are also wise beyond your years. I think this specific quote from your post proves that:

    “I cannot wait to graduate so I learn again.”

    My friend, YOU are a rockstar! :)

    Comment by Nate Riggs | June 10, 2010 | Reply

  4. Great post Gina, you are definitely not alone in wanting more from your education. This quote sums up a problem much larger than your own personal experience.

    “I have piles of books scattered around my room that I have been dying to read and have not yet had the chance to because frankly, I have been reading the same crappy public relationships text books over and over again that all say the same thing. None of which have addressed new media, by the way.”

    I used to take real marketing books into my classes and read them when things got too boring. :) I’m curious which books you are getting into now?

    Comment by Brandon Croke | July 28, 2010 | Reply

    • Thanks, Brandon –

      I love that you took “real marketing books” to your classes. I’m currently reading Chris Bohjalian’s “Skeletons at the Feast” (I would say that I’m reading this for fun – but it’s incredibly haunting. Bohjalian is a terrific writer.)

      I just finished Joel Comm’s “Twitter Power 2.0″ which gave me some good ideas for using social media for B2B – but since I already love Twitter, it didn’t hold my attention – it would be a good book for beginners.

      What about you?

      Comment by Gina Bericchia | August 5, 2010 | Reply

      • I love Seth Godin and read his blog/books regularly.

        Went through Malcom Gladwell’s books and enjoyed those, but my favorite practical marketing how to is Inbound Marketing by the Hubspot founders.

        Comment by Brandon Croke | August 5, 2010

  5. LOVE your post. Hope your learning is going as planned. It’s funny how we learned the things we weren’t proud of… here’s for reading books we enjoy! Cheers

    Charlotte

    Comment by charlotte halliday | October 18, 2010 | Reply


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