Have a Pizza and Some Beer

Communication is essential in all aspects of life. It is defined as “the effective conveying of ideas or feelings or a means of connection between people and places” according to Google. Effective communication can make or break business and personal relationships. Throughout my studies this term I have explored topics such as effective listening and inspiring vision. I’ve learned about smart strategies for communicating during a crisis and effective leadership. Throughout each of these topics I have tried to examine my behaviors and strategies professionally as well as personally because essentially isn’t that what higher education should be about?

I have to laugh when I hear about initiatives like creating safe spaces on college campuses because opposing views are just too stressful for students to hear. How can you truly give a knowledgeable opinion on any topic without first being educated on that subject matter? In reflecting on the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor this past week I thought what a stark contrast to the generation we have today. When I was pursuing my bachelor’s degree back in the old days before the concept of safe spaces and pony ride therapy for stressed out college kids, I was exposed to many different topics by professors from all walks of life. As a side note, we ate too much pizza and drank too much beer to cope with our “life stress”.

Men of WWII 

Anyway, I had a physical science professor who was supposedly an atheist who cut off his finger as a test to see if God existed. I didn’t find him scary or feel I needed play dough therapy in order to cope, I was fascinated by him and his view of the world from the perspective of science. When I encountered an English professor who said the bible was simply a book of stories and metaphors I didn’t abandon my religion. It inspired me to dig deeper to discover why I believe what I believe. In my ripe old age of forty-two I have come to believe you should constantly be learning. My children make fun of me because one of my favorite shows is Aerial America on the Smithsonian channel. But I enjoy it because it’s a beautiful exhibition of our great nation and I have learned so many interesting facts like the real von Trapp family settled in Stowe, Vermont in the 1940’s.

So my point to this week’s blog is that we should never fear education or expanding our views. It makes us more well-rounded and gives us the ability to see the world as the complex place it is rather than our two dimensional bubble of everything that this pleasing to our narrow palate.