An educator's impact, longevity of learning is forever
This was originally published in the March 26 print edition of the Midland Reporter-Telegram.
Over the weekend, I had the chance to attend the Society of Professional Journalists' Region 8 Conference at Tarleton State University.
Although it was a conference for journalists, it was really a lot more than that for me.
TSU was the first higher education institution I attended after graduating from high school. It wasn't my first choice, nor was it really my niche. It's OK; nothing is suitable for everyone. Nonetheless, it was still the place where it all began for me. Plus, the Region 8 coordinator, Kathryn Jones, was my adviser when I worked for the Texan News Service.
She and her husband, Dan Malone – also my adviser -- welcomed me with open arms. After my first class as an 18-year-old college freshman and introduced myself, I asked Malone if he would give me a chance. He gave me an assignment that was due later that afternoon, and I turned it in; I was the only freshman in the newsroom that year. The two of them wanted to help me, despite how ignorant I was about journalism.
I'm now the 21-year-old education reporter for the Reporter-Telegram — and I credit Jones and Malone for contributing the most toward my knowledge of journalism. He is a Pulitzer Prize-winner; she freelances for the New York Times. Being under their wings when I truly began to take the first steps toward becoming a journalist, gave me a passion for journalism I never knew I could have.
They exhibit what a true educator should: the power to inspire.
So, I went to the conference, thinking I would show up to tell them where I am now and thank them and sit back during the sessions. I figured I would know most of what was being taught because I had graduated from Texas Tech University in December. And everyone knows a fresh-out-of-college graduate knows everything the world offers -- at least I thought so.
It turns out I was wrong, as many people would expect. I did hug them and thank them. But I certainly did not know all that was taught throughout the day. Once again, because of Jones and Malone, I learned more than what I would have expected.
Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Robert Hart stood in front of us to talk about creative media. Sandra Gonzalez of the SPJ taught two sessions on Google tools I had never heard of. And, at the end of the day, the rookie journalists had an open conversation with seasoned journalists — including Beth Frerking, vertical editor of the Dallas Morning News, and Matthew Hall, editorial and opinion director of the San Diego Union-Tribune — giving us the opportunity to talk about our experiences and receive invaluable advice from successful journalists who were once in our position.
I typed pages and pages of notes. And it hit me as I looked back on my notes: Education is forever.
It's inevitable that learning will be a part of each of our lives until we take our last breath. What we learned in our childhood will impact the rest of our lives, and every day will offer a new lesson.
Jones and Malone did a stellar job at teaching me when I was a clueless freshman. But, last weekend, they taught me different things. Even the experienced journalists left the event with more knowledge than what they came in with. The conference really emphasized to me the importance of education.
It reiterated to me that the foundation of each student's education should be strong, so they can be ahead of the curve. It will have a long-term effect — no matter the subject. I would have loved to know about Google tools before I graduated from college, and I'm certain some journalism students did, so they have a head start on me, and now I've got to catch up.
But it's also important that the educators standing before them today are individuals they can approach later in life who will be able to catch them up on what they missed, plus teach them more to get them ahead — as Jones and Malone have done for me.
It's never too late to learn something new, or to teach something new — because the longevity of learning is life-long. But it is vital that all are equipped from the start, so new time is not wasted on teaching them old information.
Photo provided by Unsplash through SquareSpace.