As my last semester of college is wrapping up, it is a great time to sit and reflect on the incredible experiences I’ve been lucky enough to partake in at the University of Georgia. If it weren’t for this class, I probably wouldn’t be writing about any of my reflections at all!
I’m lucky to have met Dr. Kane late in the fall semester right around the time I was signing up for this semester’s classes. He told me I would not regret signing up for it, as it’d be unlike any other class I’ve ever had. He sure was right. I knew this on day one when he was giving us a rundown of what was to come; the energy circulating in the air, and the whole class could tell we were in for something special. I don’t think a single person in class that day dropped out, which is a remarkable feat given the horrible day and time for the class. Note here: Thursdays from 4-7 pm are about as bad as it gets for a UGA student. Thursdays are the biggest day of the week, especially for @miragerasoli aka Double Trouble. Still, attendance was never an issue. This pays homage to the fact that the material, instructor, and class culture were engaging and worth it all. Going forward, make this class on Tuesday or Wednesday from 4-7 pm if possible, as I do like the long classes and only once-a-week flow of things. I think it helps attract students who are determined and engaging because it asks much more of them upfront. If that isn’t an option, I’d do Tuesday/Thursday in the 2:20 pm slot.
I’m grateful that this class made me put thoughts into words on paper. I took pride in writing a story in an entertaining way about something that interested me without the pressure of being perfect. While my writing might have included some above-average outlandish thoughts and ideas, it was a way to express very particular feelings, and that’s what writing should be about. Many people that I look up to have a blog of their own where they write about anything and everything, and I think that these blog posts have made me realize that I too would like to do that someday (maybe sooner rather than later?) because writing is challenging and fun. Now, if only I could find inspiration for what to write about! Twitter and other people’s opinions are probably a good place to start.
The guest speakers were an awesome part of this class. They tied the ribbon on top by adding so much real-world value to the subject matter at hand. We learned all these cool concepts, ideas, and ways of implementation. It could have stopped there, and we wouldn’t have known any better; however, through Dr. Kane and the strong UGA alumni network, we had tremendously fascinating people with different backgrounds, beliefs, and professions come and tell us their stories. Naturally, everyone had a different story which made it clear that there were many ways to get the job done. There were a few ideas that seemed consistent with almost every guest.
- We are in a wonderful position of opportunity coming into the workforce. Say yes to opportunities and take risks while we can before we become tied down by various things that come as we age.
- I am who I am. Be true to yourself by being a hard worker, versatile, and a go-getter. Don’t forget about identity capital. Know what I like and dislike and trust my intuition. When it comes down to it, the only thing I will be selling is myself and the brand I’ve built for myself.
- Communication is the most important tool for a leader, and it is the only job you cannot delegate to someone else. In times of adversity, communicate transparently. In times of success, communicate powerfully and effectively.
Another thing I noticed was that our guests all spoke effectively and could concisely tell a story. It is a sign of a natural leader and demands the room’s attention, but the skill comes with practice and repetition. My 100th time speaking in front of an audience will surely be better than my 20th time, so I need to constantly find ways to get up and speak in front of a crowd.
Got the inspiration from Charlie’s blog to drop my important socials to stay connected in the future.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-perticone-8879941b6/
Instagram: @joseph_pert
This class has pushed me to become a better individual and has laid a strong foundation that I am excited to take with me as I graduate and enter the next phase of my life. Let’s stay in touch, as we will all do tremendous things while facing both the ups and downs of the unknown future. Go and be great, but never forget the wise words of Master Oogway!
Hi Joseph, this was fun to read. I also might start blogging and I hope blogging as a whole has a revival. It used to be so popular and I never understood why until taking this class. It is one of the most fun challenges I have encountered this semester. It is the opposite of mind numbing, and reading other people’s posts was often inspiring. We will definitely keep in touch in the future. Best of luck!
Hey Joseph! I loved your final post to end of this semester and the Oogway quote was a great way to end your post. I agree that maybe dividing the class time would be great for future semesters. I as well loved the creativity and openness that the blog post gave us. I felt like I was able to do what ever I wanted and just have a fun time writing about it.
Hey Joseph! I remember the first day of class waiting outside to go in, and you told me that prof Kane was going to fly here from Boston every week to teach this class and I thought, “oh so this guy’s legit”. I completely agree with your takeaways from the guest speakers and think it is interesting how even though these are all things we have heard before, something about hearing it from our speakers made it stick more than ever.
Hi Joseph, I definitely agree that Thursday classes from 4-7 are very difficult for students to attend. However, I looked forward to attending this class every week and always enjoyed the class discussions. I agree that the guest speakers were amazing, and I love how you included your main takeaways in your post. It was great meeting you in class!
Hi Joseph! This blog did a really good job of highlighting all of the aspects of the course. I agree with you that having a long class once a week is a good idea, but also that it would be best on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Great post!
Great wrap up post, Thanks for the advice on class time. Since I’ll be dept head going forward, I can pick the time!
Hi Joseph, this was a great post to read. I think it is cool that you got a chance to meet Dr.Kane during the fall semester. I am glad that I was able to register and get a seat considering that I know this class will be in high demand if it does get taught again. I liked how you talked about a few main ideas that come from every guest because I noticed some of these things as well such as communication being an important tool and how there is so much opportunity out there.
I like the iG plug