As a college student, I must have been an idealist. I settled on a major in Religious Studies at UW-Oshkosh. Thank goodness my minor was Radio, TV, and Film.
The religious studies courses captured my interest. I loved learning about religion as a form of history archeology, and literature. Of particular interest were the courses I took with Edward Linenthal, who now teaches in Indiana.
It started with a course about the Holocaust...but not just the Holocaust. We studied how the Holocaust is remembered (and in some cases, not remembered). This fascinating course got me started taking every course Linenthal offered about memory and memorials. I still read about these topics today.
I can't really explain why I find the topic of memory and memorials so fascinating. Perhaps it's because it wraps together history, politics and anthropology in a highly controversial package...just my cup of tea.
I could go on forever on this topic...those who get me started soon regret it. Perhaps I need another new blog.
Whenever I say I was a Religious Studies major, I'm immediately having to explain myself. 1) I have to explain that, no, I was not at seminary and not looking to become a member of the clergy....this was a UW major...very secular. 2) When I talk about my interest in memorials of tragic events, people focus on the tragedy. This is a problem if you see my bookshelf at home. I have a lot of books about death and destruction. When I explain that it's not the death and destruction I'm actually interested in, I usually get a skeptical glare.
So, how does any of this play into my day-to-day work in the news business, promoting new media, and working on a college campus?
It gives me passion. I learned in college how to take a passion for something and pour my heart into it. For that course on the Holocaust, I probably did more writing than any other class I've ever taken, grad or undergrad. I loved every second of it and was bummed when it ended.
The same applies to the work I do today. I work on numerous projects everyday for many hours and often at home. I'm always thinking about it. Why? I'm passionate about it, and when you're passionate about something, you tackle it with everything you've got.
I'm very fortunate to have work that I enjoy.
I can't promise you professional success if you follow your passions in college, but I can promise you a lesson in hard work...work you'll love.