At the beginning of the spring semester I realized I was missing an important class in order to graduate in May. Talking with my advisor and the chair of the Communications Department, Ralph Hanson, I was able to sub that class for the one I’m writing this blog for JMC 406 – Blogging and Commentary.
This was one of the best opportunities presented to be at a time as I thought I would need to register for another semester of classes. That’s because most of my college education is covered by FASFA and in order to qualify you have to be a full-time student.
With two minors already, I didn’t want to have to add on to my student loans. And let’s just say my student debt told me I needed to finish this spring. Speaking with Hanson for the first time about this, I walked in nervous since I’d never had him in any other class.
He welcomed me into his office and reviewed my degree audit, agreeing that we could figure something out. And that’s when I knew this chair was different than any other at UNK. I was understood and accommodated too, something I could say was the first to occur during my college education.
Walking into our first class of JMC 406 in January, I didn’t know what to expect. I had never had Dr. Hanson as a professor before, and was worried I wouldn’t be a good enough writer for the class. It was different than any other class I had ever taken as we sat in a conference room together at a large table.
I loved being able to sit with Dr. Hanson during our discussions. It seemed as though he thought of us as equals as he sat next to us. Unlike other professors who sit at the front at their desk lecturing for an hour.
He spoke to us, not like we were just undergraduates, but like we were learners awaiting to hear his wise speeches and understand him. Hanson believes in us and recognizes us when we achieve and excel.
As the weeks moved forward I learned how to read and understand well written editorials by nationally recognized writers. I slowly began to understand how to incorporate my own opinion with that of fact, giving my readers a reason to be persuaded.
Learning. How to express myself through writing. I use to think who cares? Who wants to read about me and my life? But I learned that if you write well enough, you give people a reason or want to read about yourself.
Learning. To enjoy reading more often and form an understanding for well developed content.
Learning. To accept an abrupt turn of events when in-class courses were switched to online learning.
Learning. How to treat others how professor Hanson treats his students. He is like no other professor I have encountered at UNK.
This one class changed my perspective on the entire Communications Department and UNK. Not only did I form great relationships with professors, but I also wanted to learn more than I ever did before.
Taking the opportunity of subbing a class I needed in order to graduate not only taught me important factors about writing, but also taught me that no matter how much I think I know, I will always stay learning.
Jasmine's Blog 
You hit it spot on Jasmine. I had never had Professor Hanson before JMC406 and I can totally relate to everything you are saying. I felt like I was a decent writer before joining the class but Dr. Hanson showed me that I could do so much more. With the many writing and reading examples he showed us in class, I was able to create my own voice and organize my thoughts in a way that made my writing that much better. Learning how to write the types of pieces from class made me excited about writing more in the future.
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I also didn’t know what to expect from JMC 406. I did have a hard time being a good writer in the beginning, I feel like I’ve gotten better now. Looking over so many editorials was a great way for all of us to shape our writing skills to a different level.
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Thank you all for you such kind words. As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, this commentary class has always been my favorite to teach – in part because there is so much room in it for you all to let your own voices shine. The first time I taught this class I was only 27 years old. And I still remember things that my students wrote in it at Northern Arizona University and West Virginia University. For all its challenges, this has been a great semester for this class if only because you all had such heartfelt things to say.
In the words of the late great David Carr – “Keep typing until it turns into writing.”
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