We had our chairs in a circle, almost like they were Old West Wagons circled for our protection. Tuesday I had lectured from the podium — and I’ll admit, I bored myself. So today, I thought I’d try something different. I told my students they’d be teaching my class today.
That’s not what happened. But like good Social Media, it became a discussion. We talked about the information that will be on Tuesday’s test. And as we talked, it happened — it was a breakthrough of sorts.
I realized my students were me 24 years ago.
They’re Mass Comm students. Each has their own dream — one wants to be a PR expert. One a television performer. One a radio host. One wants to make documentary films. But what we all have in common is that crazy dream –– That gnawing itch that keeps us from being happy in a 9 to 5 job. I told them that at times I envied my friends who are doctors or accountants. Not because what they do is easy (I couldn’t do it) but because their (very difficult) path was laid out for them.
Our path is more nebulous.
My dream was a job where there were less than 200 positions in the country. Now, I probably could count the number of full-time editorial cartoonists on my digits. There was no path for me to follow. It was trial and lots of errors. I fumbled and stumbled. That’s why I worked as a janitor. But I moved and enjoyed great experiences. That’s why I worked in Texas and California.
But like a compass always finds North, I found my dream. And l like I told my students today, that dream is ethereal and always changing. People say you must always keep learning. I learned that you also much always be changing. And it has changed me for the better.
Chasing a dream will do that. And as their professor, I vow to help them find their path like I did so many years ago.