2008 Woodie Awards
Doing things our way
Muhlenberg Weekly Executive Board
Issue date: 2/7/08 Section: Op/Ed
In our previous vein of spurring our fellow classmates to care, we have decided to bring the issue a little closer to home and write about what we know. We know mainly about the education that we are receiving here at the College, and while it is definitely diverse, we have to wonder if it is enough. Most would say that it is not adequate equipment for the "real world," but we would have to disagree with the masses on that point.
While we admit that a liberal arts education may not be as practical as a straight technical education, we do believe that we will succeed once we have left academic row far behind. Notice, however, that we did not say that everything we have learned came from inside a classroom. No, we believe that the best lessons lie far outside academics - they are found in dormitories, chapels, and for us, at least, this office. Here, we learned how to meet deadlines, make something out of nothing and cultivate strong personal working relationships. We have learned the basics of journalism through constant practice, not theoretical instruction in the classroom.
People ask us why on earth we spend every Tuesday night in the office, frantically scribbling and typing away, hoping to finish by a decent hour. When we are exhausted and cranky after yet another long production night, we ask ourselves the same question. But then we remember why. Sure, we've learned the concepts and ideas in class, but now we need to put them into action. And this is our way.
Our minds are more than prepared for an actual career, but it is our choosing to act that readies our confidence. Knowing you can do a job and understanding how one is done are completely different. Without action, there can be no mistakes, and without mistakes, there can be no knowledge gained. We apply our education every day, whether we are aware of it or not, and even the most abstract philosophical theorem has its place in the real world. No problem can be resolved without knowledge of possible solutions, and no career can be put into practice without the theory behind it.
So, the next time you want to throw your copy of Milton against the wall, know that not all lessons are learned in the classroom - but without that foundation, no one would have the capability to learn at all.
While we admit that a liberal arts education may not be as practical as a straight technical education, we do believe that we will succeed once we have left academic row far behind. Notice, however, that we did not say that everything we have learned came from inside a classroom. No, we believe that the best lessons lie far outside academics - they are found in dormitories, chapels, and for us, at least, this office. Here, we learned how to meet deadlines, make something out of nothing and cultivate strong personal working relationships. We have learned the basics of journalism through constant practice, not theoretical instruction in the classroom.
People ask us why on earth we spend every Tuesday night in the office, frantically scribbling and typing away, hoping to finish by a decent hour. When we are exhausted and cranky after yet another long production night, we ask ourselves the same question. But then we remember why. Sure, we've learned the concepts and ideas in class, but now we need to put them into action. And this is our way.
Our minds are more than prepared for an actual career, but it is our choosing to act that readies our confidence. Knowing you can do a job and understanding how one is done are completely different. Without action, there can be no mistakes, and without mistakes, there can be no knowledge gained. We apply our education every day, whether we are aware of it or not, and even the most abstract philosophical theorem has its place in the real world. No problem can be resolved without knowledge of possible solutions, and no career can be put into practice without the theory behind it.
So, the next time you want to throw your copy of Milton against the wall, know that not all lessons are learned in the classroom - but without that foundation, no one would have the capability to learn at all.